Southeast Regional Rotation Order (PDF Format)
For the 16th time in the past 18 years, the University of Kentucky gymnastics team earned a spot in NCAA regional competition. The 20th-ranked GymKats will travel to Morgantown, W.Va., for the Southeast Regional Championship, one of six regionals that will serve as the first round of NCAA postseason action.
“It is exciting for our gymnasts and the program to again qualify for postseason action,” Coach Leah Little said. “The pairings in our region give us a really good chance to go on to the finals. This is the expectation of the program to get this far, and I am glad this team is getting the opportunity again.”
In a change from past seasons, UK is being sent out of its home region to compete. The GymKats earned the right to continue their season with a No. 3 ranking in the Central Region, but as a result of the September 11 tragedies and out of concern for the welfare of student-athletes, the Division I Championship/Competition Cabinet made adjustments to reduce team air travel by placing teams at regional sites within 400 miles whenever possible.
As a result, Kentucky will travel back to WVU where they competed in the Governor’s Cup on Feb. 2, finishing second to the Mountaineers, 195.125-193.925. Teams joining UK and 19th-ranked WVU are No. 2 Alabama, No. 11 Minnesota, No. 21 Michigan State and No. 22 North Carolina.
The Crimson Tide is the only other team UK has faced this season. Kentucky lost both meetings, 197.425-195.100 at home and 196.925-194.325 at the Southeastern Conference Championship this past weekend.
The top two teams at each regional will advance to the NCAA Championships in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on April 18-20. Individuals whose teams do not advance can earn bids by winning their individual event or by being one of the top two all-arounders.
The Southeast Region Championship will take place at WVU Coliseum on Saturday, April 6 at 6 p.m. ET. Tickets are available for $8 by calling 1-800-WVU-GAME.
Southeast Region – April 6 at Morgantown, West Virginia (West Virginia University)
Teams
1. Alabama
2. Minnesota
3. West Virginia
4. Kentucky
5. Michigan State
6. North Carolina
West Region – April 6 at Corvallis, Oregon (Oregon State University)
Teams
1. Utah
2. Oklahoma
3. Oregon State
4. Southern Utah
5. Washington
6. Boise State
North Central Region – April 6 at Denver, Colorado (University of Denver)
Teams
1. Georgia
2. Stanford
3. Denver
4. Missouri
5. Air Force
6. Utah State
South Central Region – April 6 at Tempe, Arizona (Arizona State University)
Teams
1. UCLA
2. Arizona
3. Brigham Young
4. Arizona State
5. Illinois-Chicago
6. Cal State Fullerton
Central Region – April 6 at Baton Rouge, Louisiana (Louisiana State University)
Teams
1. Louisiana State
2. Iowa State
3. Florida
4. Central Michigan
5. New Hampshire
6. Illinois State
Northeast Region – April 6 at University Park, Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania State University)
Teams
1. Michigan
2. Nebraska
3. Iowa
4. George Washington
5. Penn State
6. Pittsburgh
