Baton Rouge, La. - The Michigan State gymnastics team posted a team score of 193.575, good for a fifth-place finish at the Central Regional Championships, Saturday night in Baton Rouge. The University of Oklahoma placed first, (196.375) and with second place finisher, Louisiana State (195.900), advanced to NCAA Championship competition. Junior Kristen Coleman (Cornwall, Ontario) was the Spartan's top-scorer on all-four events, en route to a 39.125 all-around performance. Coleman, whose score placed her third overall, advanced to the NCAA Championships as one of the top-two all-around finishers not competing for Oklahoma or LSU.
"We got off to a difficult start," Head Coach Kathie Klages said. "I'm proud that we bounced back and competed like we're capable on floor and vault and I am very excited for Kristen and her opportunity to compete at nationals."
Coleman is the first Spartan to qualify for NCAA competition since Sarah Alexander was named as an alternate in 2003, and the first non-alternate participant since Jamie Elwell and Kristin Peugeot did so in 1997. Coleman will represent Michigan State in the all-around competition, April 20-22, at Corvallis, Ore., on the campus of Oregon State University.
"I went out tonight knowing this could be the last meet of the season," said Coleman. "I wanted to hit all of my routines tonight. I'm really excited to compete at NCAA's, but it is still emotional to have competed as a team for the last time tonight."
The Spartans got off to a rocky start, netting just a 47.500 on beam, during the competition's first rotation. Coleman paced Michigan State with a 9.675, while senior Sarah Alexander (Kernersville, N.C.) garnered a 9.650. Juniors Chayla Hill (Hudson, Ohio) and Victoria Iakounina (Dumfries, Va.) added scores of 9.500 and 9.525, respectively.
Following a bye, the Green and White rebounded nicely, scoring a 48.975 on floor exercise. The score was just one-tenth away from tying the team's season-high. Alexander and Coleman led the way for the Spartans, each earning scores of 9.850. Freshman Katlyn Roggensack (Wheaton, Ill.) added a 9.775, while Hill and freshman Briana Dicus (Rochelle, Ill.) and Dani Fanning (Glendale, Ariz.) rounded out the scoring with a trio of 9.750's.
Michigan State carried its momentum to vault, posting a 48.850, its fourth-highest score of the season. Coleman led the way with a score of 9.850, while Hill and Dicus each chipped in with a 9.775 performance. For the second-straight rotation the Spartans were able to discard a score as high as 9.750.
The Spartans wrapped up competition with a 48.175 on bars. Coleman notched a 9.800 to lead the way, finishing in a tie for sixth-place. Sophomore Rhiannon Banda-Scott (Burlington, Ontario) added a 9.725 and Roggensack contributed a 9.650.
The fifth-place finish capped a sucessful team-season for the Green and White, who posted an 11-7 regular season and a second-place finish at the Big Ten Championships.
