Beavers Win Regional Title Advance to NCAA Championships

Saturday, April 2

Oregon State

197.025

196.550

Nebraska

Beavers Win Regional Title Advance to NCAA Championships

April 02, 2011 | Women's Gymnastics

By: TBD

April 2, 2011

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CORVALLIS -

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The No. 3 Oregon State gymnastics' team, led by junior Leslie Mak's three individual titles including all-around, earned its sixth straight berth to the NCAA Championships by taking the Corvallis Regional with a team score of 197.025 on Saturday evening in front of a crowd of 5,033 at Gill Coliseum.

"I'm elated. Regionals are always nerve racking no matter what seed you are. You are always thrilled to advance onto the next level," head coach Tanya Chaplin said. "We're looking forward to getting ready and going to work over these next couple weeks and were excited to be traveling to Cleveland."

The Beavers opened up competition without having to count a score lower than 9.800 on the floor exercise, led off by sophomore Kelsi Blalock's unanimous 9.80 routine. Juniors Olivia Vivian and Mak counted 9.85 scores for Oregon State before sophomore Makayla Stambaugh and freshman Britney Ranzy both posted identical 9.90 scores with legendary Gill Coliseum erupting with each tumbling pass. The Beavers easily bypassed the competition in the opening rotation with a 49.300 with none of the other three teams reaching the 49.000 mark.

"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."

While carrying the momentum from the opening rotation over to the vault, the Beavers stuck nearly every landing to score 49.125, once again behind a big Yurchenko layout by Ranzy, much to the delight of Beaver Nation. All-around contenders Mak and Stambaugh scored 9.80 and 9.825, respectively, to pull ahead in the race for the individual title heading into the team's first bye.

After the short break, the Beavers quickly proved why they're the top-ranked uneven bars team in the country with junior Stephanie McGregor leading things off with a solid 9.80 routine. Freshman Brittany Harris followed suit, fighting to hold her footing on her landing to score a 9.775. Stambaugh continued to make her case for all-around champion with an impressive routine, easily sticking her full-twisting double back dismount to score a 9.875. Mak followed right behind to trump all competitors with unanimous 9.90 scores from all four judges. The fans clearly felt that Vivian's anchoring performance should have earned higher marks than the 9.875 she received, but the Beavers cruised to a 49.225 score heading into their final rotation on the balance beam.

Needing a 49.325 on the balance beam to reach 197.000 for the third time this season, second time in postseason, Blalock made a strong case that the Beavers might reach it with a leadoff score of 9.875 to set a career-high. Just as the team has fed off of each other throughout the season, so went the case with Harris who quickly chalked up a solid 9.85. Senior Jen Kesler, after missing her routine on the uneven bars in the previous rotation, rebounded with a 9.85 to continue to spur the team into the final handful of performances. Vivian continued to impress in her three events, earning OSU its second 9.875 as the second to last competitor. With only Mak left to compete, she wrapped up competition in the Corvallis Regional a top score of 9.90 to secure the all-around title, the team's regional title and an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships in Cleveland.

"Every year is a different team and every team is different and has a different quality," Vivian said. "This year we're definitely a bunch of fighters and were all focused on that one goal. We're going for it all this year, national champions and nothing less and were very capable. We have the talent it's all about putting it together at the right time."

Oregon State will be back in action April 15-17 at the NCAA Championships. Fans can purchase their tickets to the NCAA Championships by visiting ncaa.com.

Oregon State Notes: Freshman Britney Ranzy scored a career-high 9.900 on the floor exercise ... Junior Leslie Mak tied her season-high 9.900 score on the uneven bars and tied her career-high on floor with a 9.875 ... Sophomore Kelsi Blalock earned a career-high 9.875 on the balance beam ... Mak was named the West Region Gymnast of the Year by the NACGC ... Oregon State coaches Tanya Chaplin and Michael Chaplin were named West Region Coaches of the Year by the NACGC.

Team Scores: 1. Oregon State 197.025; 2. Nebraska 196.550; 3. Michigan State 194.525; 4. San Jose State 194.425; 5. Iowa 193.925; 6. Southern Utah 193.775.

All-Around: 1. Leslie Mak (OSU) 39.475; 2. Rebecca Simbhudas (IOWA) 39.325; 3. Houry Gebeshian (IOWA) 39.300. Other OSU Scores: Makayla Stambaugh (OSU) 38.325.

Vault: T1. Britney Ranzy (OSU) 9.875; T1. Erin Davis (NU) 9.875; T3. Kelsi Blalock (OSU), 9.850; T3. Lora Evenstad (NU) 9.850. Other OSU Scores: Makayla Stambaugh 9.825; Leslie Mak 9.800; Stephanie McGregor 9.775; Becky Colvin 9.650.

Uneven Bars: 1. Leslie Mak (OSU) 9.900; T2. Makayla Stambaugh (OSU) 9.875; T2. Olivia Vivian (OSU) 9.875; T2. Janelle Giblin (NU) 9.875. Other OSU Scores: Stephanie McGregor 9.800; Brittany Harris 9.775; Jen Kesler 9.350.

Balance Beam: 1. Leslie Mak (OSU) 9.900; T2. Kelsi Blalock (OSU) 9.875; T2. Olivia Vivian (OSU) 9.875; T2. Emily Wong (NU) 9.875; T2. Rebecca Simbhudas (IOWA) 9.875; T2. Houry Gebeshian (IOWA) 9.875.

Other OSU Scores: Jen Kesler 9.850; Brittany Harris 9.850; Makayla Stambaugh (OSU) 8.725.

Floor Exercise: T1. Makalya Stambaugh (OSU) 9.900; T1. Britney Ranzy (OSU) 9.900; T1. Lora Evanstad (NU) 9.900; T1. Katie Valleau (SJSU) 9.900. Other OSU Scores: Olivia Vivian 9.850; Leslie Mak 9.850; Kelsey Blalock 9.800; Brittany Harris 9.775.