Wolverines Assigned to Denver for NCAA Regional Competition
3/20/2023 12:48:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 3-ranked University of Michigan women's gymnastics team will make its 32nd NCAA appearance when it travels to Denver, Colo., Thursday, March 30-Sunday, April 2.
Joining the Wolverines at Denver will be No. 6 LSU, No. 11 Oregon State, host No. 14 Denver, No. 18 Minnesota, No. 19 Georgia, No. 23 Nebraska, No. 28 Arizona and No. 35 North Carolina
In the NCAA regional format, each of the four regional sites will feature four sessions over three days. The first round will take place Thursday, March 30, at 3 p.m. MT with Arizona competing against North Carolina for a spot in Friday's evening session. Two second-round sessions will take place on Friday with the afternoon session starting at 2 p.m. MT, including LSU, Oregon State, Georgia and Nebraska. The evening session will start at 7 p.m. MT and feature Michigan, Denver, Minnesota and Thursday's winner. The top two teams from each session on Friday will advance to the regional final, which will take place on Sunday, April 2, at 5 p.m. MT.
The top two teams from Sunday's final will advance to nationals. In addition, the top all-around gymnast (who is not on a qualifying team) and top individual on each event who is not part of a qualifying team or an all-around qualifier will advance to the national championships in that event only. The NCAA Championships are scheduled for Thursday and Saturday, April 13 & 17, in Fort Worth, Texas.
This marks the 31st consecutive year that head coach Bev Plocki has led the Wolverines to a NCAA appearance. They have gone on to advance to the NCAA Championships in 25 of the previous 31 seasons. Prior to Plocki, the Wolverines only competed in the NCAA Championships one time, winning the NCAA Regional and placing 10th overall in 1982.
The Wolverines eclipsed the 198 barrier on five occasions this season, including two times at Crisler and beat No. 1 Oklahoma at home. Most recently, Michigan captured its 27th Big Ten championship as it scored just the second-ever 198 in championship history. U-M also recorded a program record 49.625 on the beam two times in the 2023 campaign and tied its uneven bars record with a 49.725 at the B1G Championships.
The Wolverines enter the NCAA Regional with a RQS (Regional Qualifying Score) of 198.080 and are ranked in the top 10 on all four events, including ranking second on the vault and third on both uneven bars and floor. The team enters the regional with a 23-2 record and an eight-meet win streak after winning the 2023 Big Ten championship.
