Sievers Advances to Nationals, Cyclones Place Fifth

MINNEAPOLIS – Meaghan Sievers will continue her season in two weeks at the NCAA Gymnastics Championships as the Cyclone won the vault title at the NCAA Gymnastics Championship Minneapolis Regional on Saturday. Sievers claimed the competition crown by tying her career-high with a 9.925.

As a team, the Cyclones finished fifth, scoring a 195.925. No. 1 Oklahoma (198.000) and No. 12 Kentucky (197.050) advanced to the NCAA Gymnastics Championship as a team. ISU fell to No. 13 Denver (third, 196.275) and No. 24 Minnesota (fourth, 196.100), but defeated in-state foe Iowa for the third time in 2018, with the Hawkeyes finishing sixth at 195.050.

"I'm so excited for the opportunity to go back." Sievers, now a two-time NCAA Gymnastics Championships qualifier, said, "This is something we all work for in the gym every day. To be able to go there and represent Iowa State is very exciting and I couldn't be happier to go there."

Sievers also qualified for the NCAA Gymnastics Championships on vault as a freshman in 2016, advancing out of the Minneapolis Regional by winning the vault competition.

"A whole lot of numbers in the gym have added up to that final vault." Iowa State head coach Jay Ronayne reflected, "She has done a lot of vaults, and I'm incredibly proud of the way she kept it together and was able to turn it one when it mattered."

Iowa State will now have to close the door on the careers of five great seniors who have sacrificed so much for this program.

"My heart breaks that their careers have to end." Ronayne added, "They worked incredibly hard to get to where they are. It has to end somewhere, and I am so proud for everything they have done for Iowa State and Cyclone Gymnastics."

Vault
Iowa State finished the evening on vault and recorded a new season high of 49.250. Meaghan Sievers was crowned the vault champion with a score of 9.925. Sophia Steinmeyer and Haylee Young both tallied 9.850s. Steinmeyer recorded a 9.850 four different times this season. Kelly Martin, who has made tremendous strides on vault this season, earned a new career-high of 9.825. Kelsey Paz notched an impressive 9.800 and Briana Ledesma recorded a 9.750.

Floor Exercise
Iowa State scored a 49.225 on floor Saturday evening. The Cyclones have been great on floor in recent meets, and continued that run at Maturi Pavilion. Haylee Young tallied a 9.900, her fourth meet in a row she has scored 9.900 and above. Briana Ledesma ended her Cyclone career with a great routine and scored a 9.875. Kelsey Paz also added a 9.850 to the effort. Meaghan Sievers earned a score of 9.825 and Ariana Orrego, who has been battling injuries, recorded a 9.775.

Uneven Bars
The Cyclones opened the Minneapolis Regional with a 48.850 on bars. The final two Cyclones in the bars rotation, Haylee Young and Hilary Green, recorded a 9.800. Meaghan Sievers was just shy of matching the duo, scoring a 9.775. Kelsey Paz tallied a 9.750 in the second slot of the lineup. Madeline Johnson opened up with a 9.725 and Briana Ledesma scored a 9.225.

Balance Beam
Iowa State was the second team to compete on the beam in the Regional. The Cyclones posted a score of 48.600. Haylee Young was a bright spot, closing with a 9.850. Molly Russ and Meaghan Sievers followed Young with a 9.725. Freshman Sophia Steinmeyer kicked the event off with a 9.700. Casandra Diaz also tallied a 9.600. Kelsey Paz fell during her routine and recorded a 9.075.

All-Around
Iowa State competed with same three all-arounders as all season. Haylee Young finished her night with a 39.400, and came up just short in her quest of going back to NCAAs, as she finished third among non-team advancing all-arounders, with the top two earning trips to St. Louis for the national championships. Meaghan Sievers finished the night with a 39.250 and Kelsey Paz ended with a 38.475.

Up Next
Meaghan Sievers will compete on vault in the NCAA Gymnastics Championships on Friday, Apr. 20.