Regional Qualifiers

In an interesting turn of events for the Redbirds, Erica Schick will no longer be competing in the all-around competition at the NCAA Regionals. At the State of Illinois Classic, Erica was dismounting off bars during her competitive routine and landed with almost stiff legs, causing her to land hard on her heels. On top of this, the four-inch thick mat that she landed on was not very padded and she bruised both of her heels. As a result, she only competed on the uneven bars and balance beam at this competition and only on bars at the MIC Conference Championships. As this injury is still bothersome, she has opted out of the Regional competition.
Because of this, a gymnast from Southeast Missouri State University will now compete in the individual all-around competition. The Regional Qualifying Score (discussed in a previous blog), is also used to determine which gymnasts will attend Regionals in the all-around competition and as an individual event specialist. The gymnast from SEMO was also the one who was ahead of Hannah Deutsch on the balance beam. Since that gymnast will now be competing in the all-around, the spot for beam specialist became available. Hannah Deutsch was previously an alternate, and now out of 72 gymnasts who had competed balance beam enough to have an RQS, she has qualified in the top spot in the South Central Region. Her RQS score was a 9.830, her average was a 9.717 (which is irrelevant in determining who attends Regionals) and her high score is a 9.925.