The Oregon St. women's gymnastics team posted their second best score of the season, 197.025, in front of a crown of 5,033 Saturday evening in Gill Coliseum, easily outdistancing second place Nebraska, who posted a score of 196.550, to claim the NCAA Corvallis Regional. Both the Beavers and Cornhuskers advanced to the NCAA Championships, which will be contested on April 15-17 in Cleveland, OH.
Oregon St.’s Leslie Mak scored a 9.900 on the bars Saturday afternoon, and also won the beam, with another 9.900, and the all-around title, with a total score of 39.475.
"I'm elated," Oregon St. coach Tanya Chaplin said. "Regionals are always nerve wracking no matter what seed you are"
It's the sixth straight year Oregon St. has qualified for Nationals, and the 26th. time overall, but the first win at regionals since 2008.
Mak was also named the West Region Gymnast of the Year.
"It's been an amazing year. I've learned so much and have grown so much with this team," Mak said. "I'm so happy with how this year is going so far and now we're going to carry on to nationals."
Freshman Britney Ranzy shared the floor exercise (9.900) and vault (9.875) titles. Her floor exercise score was her career best.
"It's overwhelming, but exciting," Ranzy said.
Sophomore Kelsi Blalock also earned a career high, scoring 9.875 on the balance beam
Oregon State coaches Tanya and Michael Chaplin were named West Region Coaches of the Year.
Complete results:
Team scores: Oregon State 197.025, Nebraska 196.550, Michigan State 194.525, San Jose State 194.425, Iowa 193.925, Southern Utah 193.775.
Vault: Britney Ranzy (OSU) 9.875, Erin Davis (N) 9.875, Kelsi Blalock (OSU) 9.850, Lora Evenstand (N) 9.825, Makayla Stambaugh (OSU) 9.825, Jamie Schleppenbach (N) 9.825, Leslie Mak (OSU) 9.800, Thomasina Wallace (SJ) 9.800, Annie Szatkowski (I), 9.800, Rebecca Simbhudas (I), Maddie Steinauer (N) 9.800, Alicia Asturias (Cal) 9.800.
Uneven bars: Leslie Mak (OSU) 9.900, Makayla Stambaugh (OSU) 9.875, Olivia Vivian (OSU) 9.875, Janelle Giblin (N) 9.875, Houry Gebeshian (I) 9.850, Brittnee Habbib (N) 9.850, Lora Evenstad (N) 9.825, Rebecca Simbhudas (I) 9.825, Emily Wong (N) 9.825, Brittany Skinner (N) 9.825.
Balance beam: Leslie Mak (OSU) 9.900, Olivia Vivian (OSU) 9.875, Kelsi Blalock (OSU) 9.875, Rebecca Simbhudas (I) 9.875, Houry Gebeshian (I) 9.875, Emily Wong (N) 9.875, Brittany Harris (OSU) 9.850, Jen Kesler (OSU) 9.850, Birttnee Habbib (N) 9.850, Maddie Steinauer (N) 9.825.
Floor exercise: Makayla Stambaugh (OSU) 9.900, Britney Ranzy (OSU) 9.900, Katie Valleau (SJ) 9.900, Lora Evanstand (N) 9.900, Leslie Mak (OSU) 9.875, Thomasina Wallace (SJ) 9.875, Danielle Levy (MSU) 9.875, Erin Davis (N) 9.875, Alaina Baker (F) 9.875, Kailey Hanen (Sac St) 9.875.
All-around: Leslie Mak (OSU) 39.475, Rebecca Simbhudas (I) 39.325, Houry Gebeshina (I) 39.300, Thomasina Wallace (SJ) 39.250, Lily Swann (SJ) 38.925, Marcy Miller (UCD) 38.775, Ari Lamb (SU) 38.750, Madisyn O'Brien (Cal) 38.625, Lauren Jeffery (SU) 38.575, Alaina Baker (F) 38.575.
Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com