ISU Ties for Second at Central Regional

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.- The 16^th-ranked Iowa State gymnastics team finished its season in third place at the NCAA Central Regional in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday night. Host Alabama took first place with a score of 196.700 and there was a tie for second place at the conclusion of the meet between Iowa State and Oklahoma. Each team held a total of 195.925. To break the tie and determine who advanced to the NCAA Championship, rules state that the sixth score on each event is counted. With that, Iowa State held a grand total of 233.200 and OU edged past the Cyclones with a total of 233.400. The Sooners will join the Crimson Tide at the NCAA Championship in Salt Lake City, Utah, on April 26-28.

"It's heatbreaking to have it come down to something that is that close," Iowa State head coach Jay Ronayne said. "The team put so much into this competition and to know that they worked so hard and focused so much and to just miss it [the NCAA Championship] is heartbreaking. What it came down to was whose number six hit (between Iowa State and Oklahoma). It was actually an incredibly close tie-breaker."

Seven-time All-American Janet Anson finished tied for second in the all-around with a score of 39.425 and will be the only Cyclone to advance to the NCAA Championship. With her second-place all-around finish, Anson will compete in each of the four events at the NCAA Championship and will be eligible for the NCAA all-around title. Saturday, Anson was named North Central Regional Gymnast of the Year to add to her post-season accolades.

Fourth-seeded Michigan State (194.800) garnered fourth place, No. 5-seed Ohio State (194.650) placed fifth, while sixth-seed Kentucky (194.025) rounded out the team competition.

After a bye in the first rotation, Iowa State began the night on floor, bringing in a team score of 48.825. Anson led the Cyclones with a 9.875, which tied for fifth on the event. Freshman Katie Sweetin also started strong, earning a 9.825 for her routine, and Jasmine Thompson helped lead ISU with a 9.800 in the event.

Following floor, Iowa State nailed its rotation on vault, scoring a 49.150, matching the team's third-highest vault score of the season. Thompson continued to do well, vaulting to a score of 9.825. Freshman Nikki Dilbert tied for fifth, scoring a season-high 9.850. Anson wowed the crowd with one of the best vaults on the night, scoring a stunning 9.90, to take second place.

"I am really pround of Jasmine's performance. She had a great night," said Ronayne.

After each team had completed two events, Alabama was in first with a two event total of 98.225, Oklahoma stood in second (98.125) with Iowa State (97.975) in third. The Cyclones were followed by Michigan State (97.525), Ohio State (97.125) and Kentucky (96.775).

With its second and final bye rotation out of the way, the Cyclones took to the uneven bars. Dilbert hit a 9.875, setting a new season-high and the Cyclones' highest bars score of the meet. She finished the night tied for third. Senior Katie Lasher went for a 9.850, her second-highest score of the season. Thompson and Anson each recorded a 9.775. The team posted a 49.000 to keep them in the running for a second-place finish and a trip to the NCAA Championship.

At this point, Alabama finished its night on vault brining in a total of 196.700, the highest total of the night. Ohio State (194.525) had also finished its rotations. Entering the final rotation of the competition, Iowa State (146.975) and Oklahoma (146.725) each would be competing in the final rotation to determine who would advance to the NCAA meet.

The Cyclones looked solid on beam as five Cyclones hit routines. With great routines from Dilbert (9.725), Thompson (9.80), senior Jade Kvach (9.775) and Sweetin (9.775), ISU earned a 48.950. Coming down to the final competitors, the race for second place was tight, with Oklahoma competing on floor.

With the pressure of the meet resting on Anson, she performed a beautiful routine which scored a 9.875 giving her second place. However, OU scored a 49.200 in its final performance leaving both schools tied at 195.925 at the end of the meet. Following the rules of the tie-breaker to determine who advanced, Iowa State held a grand total of 233.200 and OU edged the Cyclones out with a total of 233.400.

Ronayne said, "I've been saying that Janet is ?Janet Automatic' and tonight she came out here and did her job. She has an opportunity to be an All-American or a national champion. It's new life when you get there, and she has the chance to put it all out and show everyone how good she really is."

ISU Results at Central Regional
April 14, 2007 (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

Name                            Vault                 Bars                 Beam                Floor                 AA
Ashley Alden                 --                      --                      9.275                --                      --
Janet Anson                  9.900                9.775                9.875                9.875                39.425
Megan Barnes               9.800                8.900                --                      --                      --
Nikki Dilbert                   9.850                9.875                9.725                9.575                39.025
Jade Kvach                    --                      --                      9.775                --                      --
Katie Lasher                  9.775                9.850                --                      --                      --
Ceilia Maccani               --                      9.725                --                      --                      --
Anna Robey                  --                      --                      --                      9.450                --
Katie Sweetin                9.650                --                      9.775                9.825                --
Melanie Tham                --                      --                      --                      9.750                --
Jasmine Thompson        9.825                9.775                9.800                9.800                39.200
Team Totals                  49.150             49.000           48.950             48.825             195.60

Team                Vault         Bars        Beam        Floor        Total
Alabama           49.150     49.150     49.075      49.325     196.700
Iowa State         49.150      49.000     48.950      48.825     195.925
Oklahoma         49.050     49.075     48.600      49.200     195.925
Michigan State 48.775     48.500     48.875      48.650    194.800
Ohio State         48.650     49.025     48.525      48.475     194.650
Kentucky          48.650     47.975     48.800      48.600     194.025

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ashley Alden

Ashley Alden

Janet Anson

Janet Anson

Megan Barnes

Megan Barnes

Nikki Dilbert

Nikki Dilbert

Jade Kvach

Jade Kvach

Katie Lasher

Katie Lasher

Ceilia Maccani

Ceilia Maccani

Ceilia Maccani

Anna Robey

Anna Robey

Katie Sweetin

Katie Sweetin

Melanie Tham

Melanie Tham

Jasmine Thompson

Jasmine Thompson

Jasmine Thompson

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics