Bowling Green State University Athletics
Popovich Qualifies For NCAA Central Regional Championships
March 24, 2004 | Gymnastics
March 24, 2004
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., - The 2004 National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships regional selections were announced today by the NCAA, and MAC Gymnast of the Year, Melissa Popovich will be one of five gymnasts competing in the all-around competition on Friday, April 2, at Baton Rouge, Louisiana at 6:00 p.m.
The Medina, Ohio native ranks third in the Central Region in the all-around with a Regional Qualifying average of 39.385, trailing only April Burkholder (39.660) of LSU and Jeana Rice (39.640) of Alabama.
Popovich posted all-around marks of 39-plus eight times this season and tabbed the second-best all-around score in BGSU history, 39.525. She also tallied a 9.925 on the balance beam in 2004, which ties for the top beam score in school record books. In addition, the BGSU team captain ranks second in Falcon records with her scores on the vault (9.9), bars (9.9) and floor (9.95), all of which were set this season. She was also a four-time MAC Gymnast or Co-Gymnast of the Week in 2004.
Regional Information
Six teams, five all-around competitors (who are not on a qualifying team) and one individual event specialist per event [who has a minimum qualifying score (RQS) of 9.4] were named to each of the six regions. The top two teams and the top two all-around competitors (who are not on an advancing team) from each regional will receive an automatic berth to the national championships in Los Angeles, California, April 15-17, hosted by the University of California, Los Angeles.
In addition, the event winners at the regional championships will advance to the national championships (in that event only) if they are not part of a qualifying team or the all-around qualifiers.
Central Region - April 2 at Baton Rouge, Louisiana (Louisiana State University)
Teams 1. Brigham Young 2. LSU 3. Arizona State 4. Auburn 5. Kent State 6. Michigan StateAll-Around Competitors 1. Popovich, Bowling Green 2. Burtinsky, Central Michigan 3. Gales, Kentucky 4. Reighard, Central Michigan 5. Meaney, Ohio State Alt. -Menne, Centenary (Louisiana)
Individual Event Specialist Vault - Janke, Ohio State Alt. - Cook, Kentucky Uneven Bars - Menne, Centenary (Louisiana) Alt. - Joy, Kentucky Balance Beam - Janke, Ohio State Alt. - Sassic, Western Michigan Floor Exercise - Morari, Eastern Michigan Alt. - Menne, Centenary (Louisiana)
