TEMPE, Ariz. – For the second year in a row, No. 21 Arizona State gymnastics is heading to NCAA Regionals, this time in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to compete in the second session of the second round on Friday, April 5.
The second session also has the host team, No. 3 LSU, as well as No. 13 Auburn and the winner of the first round between George Washington and Lindenwood. In the first session, No. 6 Utah is the top team, followed by No. 11 Minnesota, BYU and Arkansas. The top two teams from the first and second sessions will compete in the third round on Saturday, April 6. The top two teams from the third round will move on to nationals.
In 2019, the Gym Devils have continued to rise to the next level with the leadership of head coach Jay Santos. They finished the regular season with a winning record (11-10) for the first time since 2014. The team has been ranked in the top 25 on Road to Nationals all season, including seven in the top 20. On bars and beam, they have also been ranked in the top 25 every week, reaching as high as No. 12 on bars and No. 16 on beam. On vault, the highest ranking has been No. 19, which they reached just last week, and on floor, the highest ranking was No. 16.
The Sun Devils collected multiple awards last week. Cairo Leonard-Baker was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team in both the all-around and on bars. She was also named a WCGA Regular Season All-American on bars. She is the first Gym Devil to receive both of those awards in back-to-back seasons since Ashley Kelly from 2003-04. Anne Kuhm added to her Pac-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year award by making the All-Pac-12 Second Team in the all-around. Nine Gym Devils received Pac-12 All-Academic nods as well, including six on the first team.
Opponents Outlook
No. 3 LSU
The second session also has the host team, No. 3 LSU, as well as No. 13 Auburn and the winner of the first round between George Washington and Lindenwood. In the first session, No. 6 Utah is the top team, followed by No. 11 Minnesota, BYU and Arkansas. The top two teams from the first and second sessions will compete in the third round on Saturday, April 6. The top two teams from the third round will move on to nationals.
In 2019, the Gym Devils have continued to rise to the next level with the leadership of head coach Jay Santos. They finished the regular season with a winning record (11-10) for the first time since 2014. The team has been ranked in the top 25 on Road to Nationals all season, including seven in the top 20. On bars and beam, they have also been ranked in the top 25 every week, reaching as high as No. 12 on bars and No. 16 on beam. On vault, the highest ranking has been No. 19, which they reached just last week, and on floor, the highest ranking was No. 16.
The Sun Devils collected multiple awards last week. Cairo Leonard-Baker was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team in both the all-around and on bars. She was also named a WCGA Regular Season All-American on bars. She is the first Gym Devil to receive both of those awards in back-to-back seasons since Ashley Kelly from 2003-04. Anne Kuhm added to her Pac-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year award by making the All-Pac-12 Second Team in the all-around. Nine Gym Devils received Pac-12 All-Academic nods as well, including six on the first team.
Opponents Outlook
No. 3 LSU
- The Tigers are the top team in the entire Baton Rouge Regional. They have an RQS of 197.810 and are ranked fourth in all four events.
- In two of the last three meets, LSU has surpassed 198.000 for the team score, the best coming against Arizona when they scored a 198.175. LSU also won the SEC Championships with a 197.900.
- The other Tigers team in this regional is Auburn, who has an RQS of 196.695. They have scored a 197.000+ once this year (197.100) and have scored over a 196.000 eight times out of the 12 meets.
- In the second week of the season, Auburn beat LSU in a dual meet, 196.700-196.275.
- The Colonials will be battling for that fourth spot in the second session. They are currently ranked No. 35 on Road to Nationals with a 195.450 RQS.
- At the EAGL Championships, they took second with a score of 195.825.
- The Lions will fight the Colonials for that fourth spot in the second session. They are currently ranked No. 36 on Road to Nationals with a 195.400 RQS.
- They tied for first at the Midwest Independent Conference Championships with a 195.350.