North Carolina State University Athletics
Hancock Advances to NCAA Championships on Beam
4/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Gainesville, Fla. - NC State senior gymnast Leigha Hancock tied for first on beam with a 9.875, and advanced to the NCAA Championships as an individual for the second-time in her career on Saturday night. Hancock is the only gymnast in school history to win an event title at the NCAA Regionals, and now advances to the 2008 NCAA Championships April 24-26 at Athens, Ga. As a team, No. 21 NC State finished fifth at the NCAA Southeast Regional in Gainesville, Fla., behind a quartet of nationally ranked teams.
Hancock previously advanced in 2006 as a sophomore as the co-floor champion at the NCAA Regionals.
"As far as Leigha goes, she was the first gymnast to ever win an event at a regional championship, and now she has done it twice, and on two different events," head coach Mark Stevenson said. "I can't be any prouder of Leigha and the job she has done. She is the best gymnast we have ever had at NC State, and it will be a long time, if ever, before we have someone better."
As a team, NC State scored a 193.825, its lowest team score in the last 11 meets. Host No. 3 Florida took top honors with a 197.525, and No. 9 UCLA will also advance with a second place showing (196.625). No. 15 Nebraska was third (196.100), No. 25 West Virginia was fourth (194.825), and North Carolina finished last with a 191.825.
"I thought as a whole my underclassmen did a good job, but my seniors struggled," Stevenson said. "That was a little disappointing because I thought we had good experience coming into the meet. I don't know if they tried too hard or if I didn't get them mentally prepared."
Sophomore Taylor Seamon held the highest score on the floor exercise at the meet, a 9.850, until No. 3 Florida posted three 9.900 scores on the second-to-last rotation to pass the Wolfpacker.
NC State got off to a slow start at the meet, posting a 48.075 on beam, the lowest score of the season. Hancock led the way with a strong beam routine, notching a 9.875, the fourth time she hit that score this season. Freshman Brittney Hardiman scored a 9.725 to take second on the team.
The Pack got back on track in its second event, scoring a 48.850 on floor, including a 9.850 from Seaman and a 9.800 from senior Heather Zolton. Hancock and Ashley Shepard both scored a 9.775 to finish third on the floor for the team.
NC State secured a score of 48.675 on vault in its third event. Hancock, Hardiman and senior Kelsey Lee tied for the team-lead with a 9.750.
The fourth and final event for the Red and White was bars, with Hardiman notching a 9.750, tied for her second-best score this year. Seaman and freshman Brittany Vontz also scored a 9.750 on bars to tie for the team lead.
Earlier in the day, the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches (NACGC) honored NC State with three NCAA Southeast Region honors. Mark Stevenson was named Coach of the Year, Karen Pleasants was named Assistant Coach of the Year and senior Leigha Hancock was tabbed as Gymnast of the Year.
