North Carolina State University Athletics
Seaman's Last Go-Around Comes at Nationals
4/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
RALEIGH, N.C. – For the second year in a row, senior gymnast Taylor Seaman will be heading to nationals. But unlike last year when Seaman only qualified on floor, this year in her final collegiate meet, she will be competing in the all-around this weekend at the 2010 NCAA Championships at Florida.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment for Taylor, and if you add up all her EAGL titles and NCAA appearances, she ranks as one of the most successful gymnasts in school history,” said NC State head coach Mark Stevenson. “At the NCAA Regionals, she was phenomenal. She was aggressive in her routines, and was very successful in each event. The fact that she is the only gymnast from the EAGL conference to make nationals, speaks to the fact of how special she is.”
At the NCAA Regional Championships at West Virginia on April 10, Seaman was the highest finisher in the all-around competition that was not on one of the two advancing teams, and qualified for nationals.
Seaman finished in sixth place in the all-around that night 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.
She is 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.
Seaman will be in action Thursday night in the second session of the day, starting on floor at 7:00 p.m.
Seaman recently stopped by for a Q&A with GoPack.com.
GoPack.com: How special is it for you to be going to the NCAA Championships for the second straight year?
Seaman: I think this trip will be a lot different from last year, in the sense that last year I only competed on floor. I’m really excited to have made it in the all-around. Last year only doing one routine I sat around for most of the meet and waited, but this time it will just be a regular meet doing all four events. I’m really excited for this chance to compete.
GoPack.com: What are you more proud of, your second straight trip as an individual or making it this year in the all-around?
Seaman: It is hard for me to choose, both of those are special to me. But I am really happy that I made it in the all-around, I would say that was one of my main goals as a gymnast at NC State to make nationals in the all-around.
GoPack.com: How is it different competing as an individual compared to when your team is there?
Seaman: Last year I didn’t realize how different it would be without my teammates, you definitely take it for granted how much they help you out while you are doing your routines. Having that support system and everybody screaming for you, you don’t have that when you are competing by yourself. It is a lot different, but this year I will be prepared for it. I am really happy to, as it seems some of my teammates will be making the road trip to support me, so hopefully I will be able to hear some cheers.
GoPack.com: What is your strongest event?
Seaman: I would have to say floor, I just love to perform my routine. I love to perform out there in front of people, and I’m pretty strong in the tumbling aspect of my floor routine.
GoPack.com: You start out on floor at the NCAA Championships, what kind of confidence do you think that can give you?
Seaman: I haven’t started out on floor first all year, so it might be a little different especially when you consider that at home meets floor is the last event and this weekend it will be my first. Hopefully with floor up first it can start me out good, and just get me excited to keep going to do well the rest of the meet.
GoPack.com: How does it feel to be the only gymnasts from the EAGL conference going to the NCAA Championships this year?
Seaman: I think that is a really good accomplishment for me, to be the only person from the conference that has made it this far this season. I really do not know too many people going to nationals this year because of that, so this year’s meet could have a different feel. I am really excited, and it would be really fun to have a strong showing representing EAGL.
GoPack.com: What would be a successful weekend for you?
Seaman: I would saying making it to an individual event final on Saturday (to do so, Seaman would have to finish in the top-four in her session on Thursday). That is a main goal, but my ultimate goal would be to earn All-American honors.
