Nebraska Women’s Gymnastics: We’re going to the NCAA!!

The NCAA announced Monday afternoon the 36 teams that will be participating in the 2015 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships. The No. 9 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team was selected the No. 2 seed in the Ames Regional. Sixth-seeded Iowa State will be the host squad for this regional which will take place at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, IA on Saturday, April 4 at 4 p.m.(CDT).

Five other teams were selected for the Ames Regional. Seeded in the top spot is No.4 LSU. No. 16 Denver was placed as the No. 3 seed. Seeds 4 – 6 are Washington, Michigan State and host Iowa State respectively.

The rotation schedule was also announced for each regional. Nebraska will begin competition with a bye in the first rotation before beginning competition on bars and beam. NU is scheduled for another bye in the fourth rotation before competing on floor exercise and finishing on vault. The bars and beam events have been two of the weaker events this season for the Cornhuskers. Floor exercise and vault events are where the team has excelled.

The Huskers head into the regionals with a season record of 5-1 overall (4-1 Big Ten). Nebraska has a group of very talented gymnasts, several of whom are nationally ranked. Senior Jessie DeZiel is currently ranked No. 12 in the all-around, No. 10 on vault and No. 20 on bars. Junior Hollie Blanske is ranked No. 16 in the all-around and is tied for No. 20 on floor. Sophomore Ashley Lambert, who scored a perfect “10” on vault two weeks in a row earlier this season, is currently ranked No. 23 on vault.

Rounding out Husker talent is sophomore Jennie Laeng. She was Big Ten co-champion on uneven bars at the Big Ten Championships in Ann Arbor, MI. last weekend. Freshman Grace Williams, who only began competing in the all-around competition in the middle of the season, will participate in all four events hoping to propel the Big Red into another Super Six competition.

The Cornhuskers hope to qualify for the 2015 NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, April 17-19. As a team, they will need to finish first or second at the Ames regional. Individual Husker gymnasts can qualify by winning an event crown. Media coverage of NCAA regionals, semis’s, Super Six and event finals has not been announced yet. Stay tuned for further updates. GOOD LUCK to the gymnastics team!! GO BIG RED!!