North Carolina State University Athletics
Seaman Qualifies for NCAA Championships in All-Around
4/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
MORGANTOWN, W.VA. – Senior Taylor Seaman will have one more college meet in her illustrious NC State career, as she qualified for the all-around at the 2010 NCAA Championships with her performance at the NCAA Regional Championships Saturday night at West Virginia.
Seaman was the highest finisher in the all-around competition that was not on one of the two advancing teams, and will go to the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive year as an individual.
Seaman finished in sixth place in the all-around with a score of 39.300, with all four of her scores 9.8 or better. The five gymnasts who finished ahead of her were all on the two teams that advanced to the NCAA Championships.
Sophomore Jess Panza narrowly missed the second spot for an individual competitor in the all-around, as Panza’s score of 39.150 was just behind Southern Utah’s Elise Wheeler’s 39.250 for the final spot.
Seaman competed on floor at last season’s NCAA Championship, after winning the event at the NCAA Regionals. She becomes only the fourth gymnast in school history to qualify as an individual in the all-around at the NCAA Championships, and the first to do so since Amy Langendorf in 1999.
As a team, the Pack came away with a sixth place showing at the NCAA Regional Championships posting a team score of 193.425. Stanford (196.775) and Michigan (195.800) were the two teams to advance to the NCAA Championships from the Morgantown Regional. Southern Utah was third with a 195.325, host West Virginia was fourth at 195.100, and Kent State placed fifth with a 194.825.
The Pack started the meet on bars, and came away with a team score of 48.525. Freshman Rachel Fincham was the Pack’s top finisher, as she placed fourth with a 9.875. Seaman was close behind in fourth place with her 9.85, and Panza was 22nd with a 9.725.
The Pack then moved over to beam, and struggled with a 46.860. Seaman and Panza both tied for sixth place with their matching scores of 9.825.
The Pack would recover on floor, as NC State’s score of 49.175 was the second highest among the six teams. In addition, all five Pack gymnasts finished in the top-25. Sophomore Brooke Barr brought home the Pack’s top finish on any event, as she placed third with a 9.875. Four gymnasts all scored a 9.825 and tied for 12th; Panza, Seaman, junior Brittany Vontz, and sophomore Rebecca Teich. Junior Brittany Hardiman’s 9.775 was good for 22nd place.
The Pack’s last event of the meet was vault, where NC State scored a 48.925. Barr once again led the way as her 9.825 was good for 12th place, while Panza and Vontz shared 22nd place with a 9.775.
Seaman will be in action at the NCAA Championships April 22-24 at Gainesville, Florida.
