Bronco gymnasts to compete in NCAA Regional Championship

The Boise State University gymnastics team won the Western

Gymnastics Conference Championship Saturday, posting a 195.65, the

Broncos’ best road score of the season. By winning the team

championship, Boise State secured their position in the upcoming

NCAA Regional Championship, marking the 17th straight year the

Broncos have qualified.

Boise State was picked to finish third in the pre-season

coaches’ poll, so their Conference Championship came as a

surprise to some. To others who have believed in the team’s

potential all season long, such as Coach Sam Sandmire, the win was

anything but a surprise.

“Sometimes you have to be perfect and sometimes you just

have to go the distance to win. Our team could have thrown in the

towel after beam but we just kept slugging away. It took a record

performance on our last event but we did it,” Sandmire

said.

In addition to the team win, Sandmire was recognized

individually as Conference Coach of the Year, but said the award is

anything but an individual accomplishment.

“I consider it a 3-way tie with my assistant coaches, Bill

Steinbach and Tina Bird,” Sandmire said.

The Broncos next move on to the NCAA Regional Championship,

which will be held Saturday, April 12, at the University of

Washington. The Broncos are seeded fourth of six teams in the West

Region competition.

Nebraska, ranked second nationally enters the competition as the

favorite, with a Regional Qualifying Score of 197.585. 11th ranked

Washington is next, with a RQS of 196.715, slightly ahead of 14th

ranked Louisiana State with a RQS of 196.485.

Boise State is ranked 36th nationally, with a RQS of 195.285.

Cal State Fullerton and San Jose State round out the group with

national rankings of 42nd and 45th respectively.

The top two teams from each of the six regional championships

will advance to the NCAA National Championships, April 24-26, at

the University of Nebraska.

Andrea Trujillo, The Arbiter

Related Posts:

1. Gymnastics finishes third at 2009 NCAA West Region Championships
2. Three seniors to compete at NCAA Indoor Championships
3. Bronco gymnasts, ranked 25th, host Utah State Friday night
4. Track and Field prepares for NCAA Western Regional competition
5. Gymnasts head to Regionals