April 12, 2003
Arizona State University's women's gymnastics team earned a berth in the 2003 NCAA Championships Saturday by placing second in the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships at the University of Michigan's Crisler Arena. The top two teams (Arizona State and Michigan) out of six advanced to the NCAA Championships, hosted by the University of Nebraska, April 24-26 in Lincoln.
In ASU's first ever trip to Ann Arbor, hit 22 of 24 routines and scored a 196.725, behind UM's 196.825. Iowa State placed third (196.525) while Penn State was fourth (196.175). New Hampshire placed fifth (195.400) and Pittsburgh was sixth (194.500), rounding out the field.
"I'm very proud of my team," said 23rd-year Sun Devil head coach John Spini. "This was a great meet and we are happy to be advancing. You never know, it might be to our advantage to go into nationals with a second-place finish because of the way they do the seeding."
After a first rotation bye, Arizona State scored a 49.425 on the floor exercise, led by senior Ashley Ellsberry's 9.925 (four-way tie for fourth-place). Junior Maggie Germaine's 9.90 placed her in a nine-way tie for eighth. ASU hit six of six routines on floor, posting its sixth-best floor total of the season.
The Sun Devils competed on vault in the third rotation, scoring 49.050. ASU was led by junior Carla DeMartini and Germaine, who scored a 9.825's and placed in a four-way tie for fourth. Ellsberry, junior Jada Cox and senior Cassidy Vreeke each posted a 9.8, placing in a nine-way tie for eighth. The Sun Devils hit all six vaults.
Following a fourth rotation bye, ASU scored a 49.050 on the uneven bars in the fifth rotation. Freshman Ashley Kelly led ASU with a 9.9 and tied with three others for first-place. Germaine added a 9.825 (three-way tie for ninth).
In the sixth and final rotation of the evening, the Devils placed third on the balance beam, scoring a 49.200. Kelly won the event with a 9.925, her second regional championship of the evening. Germaine tied for ninth (9.850).
Kelly placed third in the all-around (39.45) while Germaine tied for fifth (39.4).
The 2003 NCAA Championships are next for ASU, April 24-26 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, located on the campus of the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.
For complete results of the 2003 NCAA Northeast Regional Championships, go to mgoblue.com.
ASU Scores (196.725)
Vault (49.050) Maggie Germaine 9.825 Carla DeMartini 9.825 Cassidy Vreeke 9.800 Ashley Ellsberry 9.800 Jada Cox 9.800 Ashley Kelly 9.775
Bars (49.050) Ashley Kelly 9.900 (T-1st) Maggie Germaine 9.825 Margaret Wojciak 9.800 Kari Muth 9.800 Amber Giorgianni 9.725 Ashley Ellsberry 9.325
Beam (49.200) Ashley Kelly 9.925 (1st) Maggie Germaine 9.850 Kari Muth 9.825 Cassidy Vreeke 9.800 Amber Giorgianni 9.800 Ashley Ellsberry 9.375
Floor (49.425) Ashley Ellsberry 9.925 Maggie Germaine 9.900 Ashley Kelly 9.875 Cassidy Vreeke 9.875 Ashley Kelly 9.850 Carla DeMartini 9.825
All-Around Ashley Kelly 39.450 (3rd) Maggie Germaine 39.400 (T-5th) Ashley Ellsberry 38.425 (14th)
Team Totals (*Top two teams advance to Nationals) 1. Michigan 196.825* 2. Arizona State 196.725* 3. Iowa State 196.525 4. Penn State 196.175 5. New Hampshire 195.400 6. Pittsburgh 194.500