Washington Gymnastics Advances To First NCAA Championship Since 1998
April 01, 2017 | Gymnastics
SEATTLE – Washington's historic season continues; for the first time since 1998, the GymDawgs are headed to the NCAA Championships. The Huskies finished the meet with a 196.550 to take second place in the Seattle Regional behind No. 1 Oklahoma's 198.075.
"I am beyond proud of our amazing young women," said head coach Elise Ray. "We have pushed them hard this season and through it all they have trusted the process and had true belief in one another. Their chemistry, grit, and desire to leave a legacy has led through an incredible season."
Senior Kaitlyn Duranczyk tied her season and career-high on bars with a 9.95 to tie for second place overall on the event and Hailey Burleson tied for third on beam with a 9.9.
The Huskies score of 196.550 is Washington's highest score ever at an NCAA Regional Championship, beating the previous record of 196.150 set in 1998. The Championship berth marks just the sixth time that the Washington Gymnastics program has reached the NCAA Championships.
Washington will head to St. Louis, Missouri on Friday, April 14 to face the other 11 teams (listed below) that qualified for the NCAA Championships. The GymDawgs will advance to the Super Six on April 15 if they finish in the top six teams on the first day at NCAA's.
Final Results of the Seattle Regional:
Oklahoma - 198.075
Washington - 196.550
Kentucky - 196.200
Stanford - 195.575
BYU - 195.025
Utah State - 194.85
Event Recaps (In order of competition):
Floor, 49.250: The GymDawgs started the meet out well, scoring a 49.250 on floor. Alexandra Yacalis hit a beautiful 9.9 routine to lead all GymDawgs in scoring on floor. Three Huskies (Maya Washington, Duranczyk, and Burleson) all scored 9.85's and Goings finished with a 9.8.
Vault, 48.875: Yacalis led all GymDawgs' with a 9.85 to tie for 7th place on the event. Burleson and Joslyn Goings each scored 9.8's and tied them for 13th place.
Bars, 49.250: Kaitlyn Duranczyk left a lasting legacy at Alaska Airlines Arena throughout her gymnastics career, but there was no better way to finish her last bars routine at home than to tie her career-high 9.95. Goings and Burleson were the next highest Husky finishers with 9.85's and freshman Madison Copiak rounded out the 9.8+ routines with a 9.825.
Beam, 49.175: The Huskies showed great resilience, overcoming a fall and an injury to clinch their NCAA Championship berth on the final routine of the night. Malory Rose, who has been the leadoff for the Huskies on beam all year long, fought through an injury on her stick dismount to hold her stick and finish with a 9.8. Burleson led all Huskies' with a 9.9 and was the anchor all season long for the GymDawgs. Zoey Schaefer tied her season high of 9.875 and freshman Michaela Nelson scored a 9.8.
All- Around: Hailey Burleson (39.4) and Joslyn Goings (39.225) placed third and sixth in the all-around, respectively.
NCAA Championship Tournament Field:
Oklahoma
LSU
Michigan
Utah
Florida
Denver
UCLA
Georgia
Auburn
Nebraska
Washington
Oregon State
Players Mentioned
