George Washington University Athletics
Gymnastics' Aiken, Guilbert Qualify Individually for NCAA Southeast Regional
3/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
March 28, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC - George Washington University senior Erin Aiken (Centreville, VA) and junior Jess Guilbert (Roswell, GA) have each qualified individually for the 2006 NCAA Southeast Regional Gymnastics Championship, as announced by the NCAA on Monday. Aiken will be one one of five gymnasts competing in the all-around at the meet, while Guilbert was selected as the individual event specialist on floor exercise. The Southeast Regional, hosted by Georgia, will take place on Saturday, April 8, at 6 p.m. in Athens, GA, at Stegeman Coliseum.
Aiken, who recently just earned All-East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Second-Team honors on both floor exercise and in the all-around for the second straight year, is making her third consecutive appearance at the regional meet. Last year as a junior, Aiken scored 37.225 in the all-around at regionals to finish 21st, while in 2004 she competed on vault at the championship and scored a 9.725 to earn a tie for 29th. Aiken owns a career best of 39.00 in the all-around, which she set this season on March 1 against Towson. She also recorded a new career high of 9.85 on floor this season as well.
Guilbert, meanwhile, will be making her first trip to the NCAA Southeast Regional. She owns a career high of 9.85 on floor, which she set as a freshman in 2004, and has posted a season-best 9.8 twice this year. In nine of her last 10 meets, including the EAGL Championship, Guilbert has scored at least a 9.7 or better on floor. A two-time EAGL All-Academic Team member, Guilbert also was one of just three gymnasts to compete on floor in every meet for the Colonials in 2006.
Six teams, five all-around competitors (who are not on a qualifying team) and one individual event specialist per event - who has a minimum Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) of 9.4 - were named to each of the six regions. The top two teams and the top two all-around competitors (who are not on an advancing team) from each regional will receive an automatic berth to the national championships in Corvallis, Oregon, April 20-22, hosted by Oregon State University. In addition, the event winners at the regional championships will advance to the national championships (in that event only) if they are not part of a qualifying team or the all-around qualifiers.
Southeast Region - 6 p.m. - April 8 in Athens, Georgia (University of Georgia, host)Teams
1. Georgia
2. Nebraska
3. Missouri
4. West Virginia
5. North Carolina
6. North Carolina State
All-Around Competitors
1. Christina Ghani, Towson
2. Rachel Martinez, Maryland
3. Rachel Colon, Maryland
4. Erin Aiken, GW
5. Decelia Willacy, Towson
Individual Event Specialists
Vault - Angela Ferg, Maryland
Alt. - Kristen Simpson, GW
Uneven Bars - Christina Lindo, Towson
Alt. - Stevie Waldman, William and Mary
Balance Beam - Alex Gatch, Maryland
Alt. - Jess Randall, William and Mary
Alt. - Angela Ferg, Maryland
Floor Exercise - Jess Guilbert, GW
Alt. - Brittany Gibbs, William and Mary
Players Mentioned
