April 15, 1998
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky gymnast Ashley Burkholder will travel to Los Angeles, Calif. for the NCAA Gymnastic Championships April 16-18 at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion.
“I am excited,” exclaimed Burkholder. “I have been pretty consistent in all of my events but floor (exercise) is probably going to be my best event. On (balance) beam, I have just got to hit the routine and on bars I need a clean performance with legs straight and together. I am ready to go and ready to see it (NCAA Nationals).”
Burkholder is the only gymnast on Kentucky’s team that has competed in all events for UK this season. She is the 1998 Co-SEC Freshman of the Year. This is the second straight year Kentucky has received this honor. Last year Krissy Hoeferlin was recognized as SEC Freshman of the Year. Burkholder is the highest ranked freshman in the SEC for the floor exercise competition, scoring a 9.975 against George Washington on Jan. 30. In addition she is ranked nationally in three events: vault, floor exercise and all-around.
“I think her ability on (balance) beam and floor (exercise) will lead Ashley to an All-America title,” said gymnastics coach Leah Little. “If she performs well, she has a shot to do this and make it to the finals.” 1996 marks the most recent year that any GymKat has qualified for the NCAA Nationals. The Kentucky qualifiers were Jenny Hansen and Robin Ewing. Ewing is currently an assistant coach for the GymKats. Preliminary team and all-around competition will be conducted in two sessions Thursday, April 16. Burkholder will compete in the first session that begins at 1 p.m. PT. The top four individuals from each session in each event (plus ties) from the preliminary team and all-around competition will compete in the individual-event competition Saturday, April 18. The top three teams from each session will advance to the Super Six competition Friday, April 17.
ParticipantsTeam competition Regional All-Around Indiv. Qualifiers Regional 1. Georgia 198.575 1. Heather Brink, Nebraska 39.475 2. Florida 197.075 2. Lindsay Vagedes, Ohio State 39.000 3. Alabama 196.550 3. Christy Denson, Utah State 39.000 4. Washington 196.150 4. Susan Echman, Ohio State 38.950 5. Michigan 196.000 5. Kara Fry, Arizona 38.900 6. Utah 195.575 6. Diana Loosli, Boise State 38.900 7. Brigham Young 195.500 7. Ashley Burkholder, Kentucky 38.875 8. Louisiana State 195.250 8. Johnna Evans, Boise State 38.825 9. North Carolina St 195.125 9. Tenli Poggemeyer, Arizona 38.82510. UCLA 195.100 10. Mindi Farmer, Ohio State 38.82511. Arizona State 195.025 11. Megan Murphy, Oregon State 38.80012. Penn State 194.600 12. Sandy Menard, N. Illinois 38.800
Selection Process
The National Collegiate Women’s Gymnastics Championships consist of 12 teams and 12 all-around competitors (who are not on a qualifying team) and event specialists. The team and all-around winner from each region will receive an automatic berth in the national championships, and the remaining seven teams and all-around competitors will qualify on the basis of rank order of finish (highest score) from all the regional championships. If the all-around winner in a region is on an advancing team, that position will revert to an at-large berth. In addition, the event winners in the regional competition who score at least a 9.8 may advance to the championships (in that event only) if they are not part of a qualifying team or the all-around qualifier.
Satellite Feed
Highlights of competition will be available Thursday and Friday, April 16 and 17 at 10:30 p.m. PT both nights. The coordinates are Galaxy 4, 17 lower, Audio 6.2 and 6.8, Downlink frequency 12035 (KU-Band)
