Wolverines Headed to Penn State for NCAA Regional
3/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Joining the six teams in the Northeast Regional Championships are five all-around competitors and one specialist for each of the four events. The all-around gymnasts are Katie Russo, Rutgers; Kathryn Fong, Yale; Jamie Green, Yale; Brooke Hamilton, Rhode Island; and Cicely Warrington, Temple. The event specialists are Courtney Turner of Rutgers on the vault and floor exercise, Katie Teft of Massachusetts on the uneven bars and Jayne Finst of Brown on the balance beam.
The top two teams and the top two all-around gymnasts (who are not on a qualifying team) at the NCAA Northeast Region Championships receive berths to the 12-team field at the 2002 NCAA Championships. In addition, any event winner who is not part of a qualifying team or the all-around qualifiers will advance to the national championships in that event only. The University of Alabama is the host of the national championships.
The selection of the teams for the six regional championships sites changed slightly from last season due to post-Sept. 11 policy changes by the NCAA. The six sites still include all the teams ranked among the top 18 in the nation; however, only the top 12 teams (instead of 18) were seeded and placed in a regional based on their ranking. The next six ranked teams (13 through 18) and remaining teams were placed in regional sites within 400 miles whenever possible.
After the top 18 teams were placed in the six regionals, the remaining team spots at each regional were filled by the top remaining teams in each region. For individuals, the top five all-around gymnasts and the top event specialist in each of the six regions were then invited to their respective NCAA Regional Championships site.
For Michigan, the trip to the NCAA Regional Championships is the 11th consecutive and the 12th in the history of the program. The team has advanced to the NCAA Championships nine times, advancing five times by winning the regional championship.
Michigan faced Iowa and Penn State at last weekend's conference championships. The Wolverines finished first (196.475), while the Hawkeyes were third (195.550) and the Nittany Lions were seventh (192.550). U-M squared off with Nebraska in last season's NCAA National Championships in Athens, Ga. Michigan holds a 1-0 record over George Washington with a 194.200-188.525 win in 1994. The Wolverines last faced Pitt in 1996 and hold a 5-4 record against the Panthers, with the five wins coming in the last five meetings.
Michigan began its 2002 postseason run last Saturday (March 23) by winning its fourth consecutive Big Ten title. The Wolverines, who have 11 conference titles in the 20-year history of the event, had seven gymnasts earn 11 All-Big Ten honors.
Ticket Information
Reserved ticket prices are $6 for adults and $4 for students, youth and senior citizens. If available, general admission tickets will also be available on the day of the event at a cost of $5 for adults and $3 for students, youth and senior citizens.
Tickets can be purchased either by phone (1-800-863-3336 or 814-865-5555) or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center ticket windows during normal business hours. Phone hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Rec Hall ticket office is not open during the week but will open at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 6.
NCAA Regional Selections Release (3/25/02)
Contact: Jason Gerdom (734) 763-4423
