Four members of UIC's women's gymnastics team competed alongside some of the nation's elite gymnasts at the NCAA Regionals in Ann Arbor, Mich. Friday. The Flames, each of whom qualified for regionals as an individual event specialist, represented the largest contingent UIC has sent to regionals since 2005.
"It was a great atmosphere with some really elite teams and individuals," co-head coach
Peter Jansson said. "Regionals brought out the best in everyone including our girls. They all made us proud and showed that they belong on this stage with the best gymnasts in the country."
In the afternoon session,
Riley Mahoney competed on vault. She scored 9.750, after earning that score from three of the four judges. (The highest and lowest scores were discarded, and the remaining two averaged, to arrive at each gymnast's final score.) Mahoney finished in a tie for 34
th place after all gymnasts, from the eight qualifying teams and several event specialists and all-arounders, completed competition across both of the day's sessions.
Alisa Sheremeta, like Mahoney competing in her first NCAA meet, scored 9.775 on floor. She earned a 9.8 from two judges and a 9.75 from the third. The freshman finished in a tie for 36
th place.
In the evening session,
Serena Baker turned in a 9.850 performance on bars. She excelled in her set, moving three of the four judges to score her at 9.85. The fourth rated her 9.8. It was her eighth straight score of 9.850 or higher. Baker improved on her score on bars at last year's regionals, which was 9.800.
Kayla Baddeley scored 9.775 on her vault. With two judges scoring her at 9.8, her performance was certainly in line with her accomplishments during her excellent season. She tied for 32
nd place in the field.
With powerhouses including defending national champion UCLA, 2018 national finalist Nebraska, along with Michigan and Alabama in the field, competition proved to be quite stiff for the top spots in each event. Indeed, the Bruins' Kyla Ross won vault with a perfect 10, and she also took first on bars with a 9.975.
Four teams will compete Saturday for two spots in the NCAA Finals. After those qualifiers are determined, the individuals with the top score on each event, not on one of those two teams, will advance to nationals as well. A score of 9.900 on vault or bars will not be high enough to qualify. Similarly, a gymnast who scored 9.900 on floor will also miss out on nationals.
The Flames will compete one more time this season, next week at USAG Nationals. UIC qualified as the #2 seed for the meet that will crown a national champion among schools that offer 7.5 or fewer scholarships.
