NC State
NCAA Regional Championship
Three From Pack Gymnastics To Compete At NCAA Regional Championship
4/1/2016 8:07:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
NC State to compete at Athens Regional
RALEIGH- After earning bids to continue postseason competition, Chelsea Knight, Brittni Watkins and Nicole Wild of the NC State gymnastics team are set to represent the Red and White at the NCAA Athens (Ga.) Regional Championship Saturday.
Hosted by Georgia inside Stegeman Coliseum, the meet is set for a 4 p.m. start. Live stats and free video stream via the SEC Network will be available.
Last Time Out
The Wolfpack finished fifth at the EAGL Championship with a meet total of 194.500, highlighted by two career-best marks, four top-five finishes and a season-best score on vault as a team.
From The Coach's Perspective
"We're excited to have three girls heading down to the NCAA Regional Championship this weekend at Georgia. We've traveled down there on several occasions for postseason competition," said head coach Mark Stevenson.
"We're disappointed that we didn't make it as a team, as we missed it by one-hundredth of a point. There were some ups and downs throughout the season, it was a great but tough year. We're very proud of the three that did qualify though, they have done a tremendous job this year.
"Brittni (Watkins) is one of the strongest gymnasts in the country in the all-around, while Chelsea (Knight) is a phenomenal vaulter and Nicole (Wild) has strong skills on beam that make up a very tough routine. We have a great chance of sending any of the three girls on to the NCAA Championship.
"They're excited for the opportunity and the team has been phenomenal this week, as they have come in and worked out with the three qualifiers voluntarily so they weren't here alone. It's been great to see the girls coming in everyday to support those three."
Where The Pack Stands
Knight qualified to compete on vault and as an alternate in the all-around competition. She holds a 38.980 RQS in the all-around, which ranks 63rd in the Road To Nationals poll. On vault she holds a 9.810 RQS, which ties for sixth in the EAGL conference as her career-high is a 9.900. Her career-high score as an all-arounder is a 39.100.
For her efforts she was recently named to All-EAGL First Team on vault for the second-straight year, as well as in the all-around.
Wild earned a qualification spot on beam, as she is listed at 75th in the national rankings with a 9.855 RQS. She holds a career-best mark of 9.900, which she hit twice during the season. She recently earned All-EAGL First team honors on the rotation, as her scoring average ranks her sixth among the EAGL league.
A two-time All-American and 2015 NCAA Championship qualifier, Watkins will compete as an all-arounder this weekend. She holds a 39.240 RQS, which lists her at No. 34 nationally.
Watkins also holds a top-35 ranking on floor, as she is ranked 30th with a 9.900 RQS. Her career-best performance as an all-arounder is a 39.525, which she has hit on multiple occasions throughout her career. On all four rotations, she holds career-high marks of 9.900 or higher.
She finished her regular season career collecting All-EAGL First Team honors on vault, bars, floor and all-around.
Scouting the Athens Regional
Along with the ninth-ranked Bulldogs, No. 3 LSU, No. 13 Oregon State, No. 22 Arizona, No. 27 George Washington and No. 36 Michigan State will compete in the team competition, while select members from Maryland, Towson, UNC-Chapel Hill and William and Mary will join the Wolfpack in the individual competition.
During the 2016 regular season, the Wolfpack faced LSU when the Tigers topped the national polls. LSU earned a score of 195.825 and the Pack finished with a 193.625.
NC State also faced EAGL foes George Washington twice and Towson once during the regular season, earning wins over both squads. In its quad meet at Towson the Pack defeated the Colonials and Tigers, while in its dual meet at GW NC State earned a season-high mark of 196.175 while George Washington tabbed a 195.800.
NC State also faced conference opponent UNC-Chapel Hill and William and Mary twice each throughout the season, clinching wins on every occasion.
NCAA Championship Qualification
A total of 12 teams and 12 all-around competitors and event specialists will advance to the NCAA Championship, held April 15-16 in Fort Worth, Texas. The top two teams and top two all-around competitors from each regional will receive and automatic berth to the national championship. In addition, event winners of each rotation at the six regional championships will advance (in that event only).
Players Mentioned
