Clauson, Ryals Earn Top-Fives at NCAA Individual Finals

Saturday, April 26

Lincoln, Neb.

7:00 PM CT

Michigan

NCAA Individual Event Finals

Clauson, Ryals Earn Top-Fives at NCAA Individual Finals

4/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Freshman All-American Becca Clauson (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall HS) and junior All-American Calli Ryals (Elyria, Ohio/Midview HS) represented the University of Michigan women's gymnastics team tonight (Saturday, April 26) in the NCAA Championships Individual Event Finals at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Clauson finished in fifth place on the balance beam with a 9.838, while Ryals and UCLA freshman Kate Richardson posted scores of 9.887 on the floor exercise to tie for fifth place.

Clauson and Elise Ray are the only U-M freshmen to earn first team All-America honors on the balance beam.

As the first Michigan competitor of the evening, Clauson scored a 9.838 on the balance beam as the third of nine competitors. It was the highest mark at the time and held up for a fifth-place finish. She opened her beam routine with a solid mount and moved to the far end to prepare for her flight series. The series was smooth and required only a small balance check with her hands at the end. She moved fluidly into position for her jumps, which were executed sharply. Clauson finished the performance with a small hop after a good dismount. UCLA's Richardson won the beam title with a 9.938.

Ryals, competing for a national championship on the floor exercise for the second consecutive year, posted a 9.887 as the sixth of nine competitors. The score, third-highest at the time of the performance, ended up putting Ryals in a tie with Richardson for fifth place in the competition. Ryals' performance, which improved on her sixth-place finish last season, was solid, with good tumbling passes and smooth dancing. Nebraska's Richelle Simpson won the floor exercise title with a 9.963.

Tonight's Individual Event Finals were the last competition of the 2003 women's gymnastics season.

Final Results

VAULT 1. Ashley Miles, Alabama 9.9375 2. Jamie Dantzscher, UCLA 9.9250 3. Chelsa Byrd, Georgia 9.9060 4. Richelle Simpson, Nebraska 9.8875 5. Jenette Antolin, UCLA 9.8815 6. Annabeth Eberle, Utah 9.8565 7. Onnie Willis, UCLA 9.8435 8. Jeana Rice, Nebraska 9.8375 9. Gina Bruce, Nebraska 9.8000 10. Brittany Smith, Georgia 9.7125 UNEVEN BARS 1. Jamie Dantzscher, UCLA 9.900 1. Kate Richardson, UCLA 9.900 3. Veronique Leclerc, Utah 9.863 4. Jenette Antolin, UCLA 9.850 Alexis Maday, Iowa 9.850 Jeana Rice, Nebraska 9.850 Yvonne Tousek, UCLA 9.850 8. Mari Bayer, Alabama 9.825 9. Richelle Simpson, Nebraska 9.812 10. Julie Houk, Nebraska 9.725 BALANCE BEAM 1. Kate Richardson, UCLA 9.938 2. Richelle Simpson, Nebraska 9.925 3. Jeana Rice, Nebraska 9.887 4. Courtney Bumpers, N. Carolina 9.863 5. BECCA CLAUSON, U-M 9.838 6. Cassie Bair, Georgia 9.800 Kristin Sterner, Alabama 9.800 8. A.J. Lamb, Nebraska 9.763 9. Lindsay Wing, Stanford 9.338 FLOOR EXERCISE 1. Richelle Simpson, Nebraska 9.963 2. Jamie Dantzscher, UCLA 9.938 3. Ashley Miles, Alabama 9.925 4. A.J. Lamb, Nebraska 9.912 5. CALLI RYALS, U-M 9.887 5. Kate Richardson, UCLA 9.887 7. Chelsa Byrd, Georgia 9.875 8. Onnie Willis, UCLA 9.863 9. Melissa Vituj, Utah 9.825

Friday Results (Super Six Team Finals)
Thursday Results (Team Preliminary Session I)

N O T E S

Michigan finished fifth with a score of 196.150 in the Super Six team final last night (Friday, April 25). It was the Wolverines' seventh top-five finish in school history.

Elise Ray (Columbia, Md./Wilde Lake HS) was the 2002 NCAA balance beam champion but was unable to defend her title, as she missed the entire season due to a shoulder injury.

Q U O T E S

Junior Calli Ryals
On finishing fifth and improving on last year's sixth-place finish ... "This year was pretty exciting. I feel like the competition was tougher this year. It was pretty intense, and it was just exciting to be out there. Today is just the icing on the cake. It's so much fun to even be out there."

On her routine ... "I felt like it was probably one of the best routines I've competed all season. Regardless of the scoring, it felt good to just to go out and hit, especially with all of my teammates up in the stands cheering me on. That was pretty cool."

Freshman Becca Clauson
On finishing fifth ... " I never thought this moment would happen. It was just amazing, and it was so cool to see my whole team up there cheering for me. That was so exciting. It was just so much fun. I never imagined finishing this well at my first nationals. I was just so pumped to be here; I was just shocked."

On the experience of competing in the event finals ... "I wasn't nervous at all. My teammates were all behind me and supporting me. They just told me to go out there and do what I've been practicing all year."

Contact: Jason Gerdom (734) 763-4423