..

Top 8 Finishes for U-M
Sat. Apr. 22 Recap
Review: mgoblue
Photos: mgoblue | umgym

Lauren placed 7th on bars and Tachi finished 8th on beam at NCAA Individual Event Finals on Saturday evening. Lauren completed her NCAA career with three NCAA All-America honors on bars, two of which were First-Team citations. Tachi became the 10th Wolverine freshman to earn NCAA First-Team All-America honors over the past 12 years.

24 for 24, but
U-M Edged Out of Finals
Thurs. Apr. 20 Recap
Preview: mgoblue
Photos: mgoblue | umgym

The Wolverines hit 24 for 24 on Thursday afternoon, but it was not enough to advance to Friday night's Super Six Finals. Utah edged Michigan (196.000) out of third place by 0.175 points, due in part to tight scoring on beam. Nebraska (196.325), Alabama (196.250), and Utah (196.175) placed 1-2-3 to advance to the Super Six Finals on Friday night.

Lauren placed second on bars (9.875) and Tachi placed third on beam (9.850) to earn NCAA First Team All-America status and to compete in the NCAA Individual Event Finals on Saturday night. In addition, the Wolverines earned 7 NCAA Second Team All-America honors: Katie (vault), Jenny (vault, bars), Becky (bars), Carol (floor), Becca (floor), and Tachi (floor).

Michigan started off strong on bars, highlighted by Lauren's 9.875 and a pair of 9.825's from Jenny and Becky. In the second rotation, the team hit 6 for 6 on beam, but exceptionally tight scoring hindered the Wolverines. Jenny led the team off with a solid set that only garnered a 9.7. In the third spot, Tachi hit for a 9.85. Becca and Lindsey performed solid routines, but only earned a pair of 9.7's. And in the anchor spot for the first time, Becky hit a beautiful set for a 9.75.

After a bye in the third rotation, Michigan walked onto floor and rocked the event for a 49.200. Lindsey posted a 9.8 in the lead-off spot. An unfortunate out of bounds in her first pass hindered Jenny (9.625), but Becca brought the team back on track for a 9.85. Carol nailed her full-in en route for a team high 9.875. Tachi (9.85) and Katie (9.825) dazzled the crowd in the fifth and anchor spots, to place the Wolverines in a tie for second with Utah after the fourth rotation.

The team moved to vault in the fifth rotation and were consistent, with a pair of 9.85's from Jenny and Katie. However, it wasn't enough to maintain third place, as Utah's 49.125 on bars in the sixth rotation (as we were on a bye) pushed us into fourth overall in the session.

NCAA Prelims Set
Sun. Apr. 9 Update
Reviews: NCAA

The NCAA announced Sunday morning that Michigan will compete in the afternoon session of the NCAA Preliminaries on April 20th. Our Wolverines will compete against Central Regional Champion Oklahoma, West Regional Champion Alabama, Central Regional Runner-Up LSU, Southeast Regional Runner-Up Nebraska, and Northeast Regional Runner-Up Utah. Michigan will start on bars. Auburn's Julie Dwyer will rotate with the Wolverines.

Southeast Regional Champion Georgia, North Central Regional Champion Arizona State, South Central Regional Champion Florida, North Central Regional Runner-Up Iowa State, South Central Regional Runner-Up Arkansas, and West Regional Runner-Up Oregon State will compete in the evening session.

The top three teams from each rotation advance to the NCAA Super Six Finals on Friday April 21st.

Wolverine Banquet Highlights
Sun. Apr. 9 Recap
Photos: umgym

On Sunday morning, the Wolverine family gathered to celebrate the 2006 gymnastics season and to honor their athletes. During the banquet, it was announced that Lindsey was awarded the Northeast Regional Gymnast of the Year. Carol received the Most Improved Award. Nellie was selected for the Coaches Award for the second year in a row. Katie and Lauren received the Unsung Hero Award. Jenny, Lindsey, and Tatjana were recognized as the team's Most Valuable Performers. And Lindsay was awarded the 10.0 Spirit Award.

Seven gymnasts earned U-M Academic Achievement Awards this year for maintaining a 3.0 GPA overall or for the past two semesters: Becky, Lindsey, Becca, Jenny, Clare, Katie, and Megan. Six gymnasts were recognized as Academic All Big Ten Athletes for maintaining a 3.0 cumulative GPA as an upperclassman: Lindsey, Becca, Jenny, Katie, Clare, and Megan. Lastly it is anticipated that three gymnasts will earn NACGC Academic All-America status this year for maintaining a 3.5 cumulative GPA overall or for the past two semesters: Lindsey, Katie, and Megan.

It was also announced that Lindsey and Carol will be the 2006-2007 recipients of the Don Shepherd Endowed Scholarships.

U-M Wins NE Regional!
Sat. Apr. 8 Recap
Reviews: mgoblue
Photos: mgoblue | umgym

After a disappointing Big Ten Championships, the No. 9 Michigan Wolverines placed first at the NCAA Northeast Regional with a 196.000 on Saturday night and advanced to the 2006 NCAA Championships (April 20-22, 2006) with the University of Utah (195.700).

Our Wolverines dominated the awards stand, as Lauren captured the event title on bars (9.900), while Lindsey placed second in the all-around (39.300) and on beam (9.875). Katie tied for second on vault (9.875) and floor (9.875). Tatjana tied for second on bars (9.850) and fifth in the all-around (39.150). Becca tied for fourth on beam (9.850), and Jenny tied for second on floor (9.875) and fifth in the all-around (39.150).

In news from other regionals....

The top two teams from each regional will advance to the NCAA National Championship (Apr. 20-22) at Oregon State University.