CHRISTIAN LAUTENSCHLEGER/THE LANTERNOhio State sophomore Rebecca Best performs on the bars during Saturday’s NCAA Regional competition at St. John Arena. Best advanced to the NCAA National Championships.After a close competition for the six teams participating in the 2009 NCAA Central Region Championships Saturday at St. John Arena, Ohio State sophomore Rebecca Best qualified to move on in the all-around competition, but without her teammates.
The No. 17 OSU team took third in the event with a score of 195.950, less than a point away from the second-place spot. No. 5 LSU won with 196.875 points, followed by No. 8 Oregon State (196.800), OSU, Michigan State (194.825), Kent State (194.650) and Kentucky (193.700).
Only the top two teams and top two all-around finishers not part of a qualifying team from each region move on to the national competition, which is how Best was able to advance.
“Last year I was so close, so it’s really exciting to move on this year, though I wish I was going with my whole team,” Best said. “There will be a lot of heavy hitters there but I hope I do well and get my name in there.”
Best and freshman Taylor Jones were the two Buckeyes competing for an all-around spot. Best’s score of 39.350 tied her for second with Oregon State’s Mandi Rodriguez.
Because Rodriguez and first-place finisher Susan Jackson of LSU were already part of qualifying teams, Best automatically qualified. Jones finished with a score of 38.900.
Coach Carey Fagan said she was happy with Rebecca’s accomplishment and the team’s effort.
“Rebecca is dynamite and she’s definitely improved from last year,” she said, “and I couldn’t have asked for anything else from my team. They gave 110 percent and I think it’s a really good indication of where the team is headed.”
The Buckeyes opened the night on the floor with freshman Casey Williamson, Jones, Best, junior Hillary Dow and senior Alyssa Meyer. Williamson was first and scored 9.750, followed by Dow with 9.725. Jones and Meyer tied with a solid 9.8 mark, while Best posted a team high 9.850 to boost OSU’s team score to 48.925 points.
Best posted the same score on the vault and beam and a 9.8 on bars.
On the vault, Dow, junior Beth Ann Ballard and senior Amanda Surine had career high scores. Dow’s 9.9 mark was the highest by any Buckeye this season. Ballard had a 9.825 while Surine posted a 9.725 mark.
On the uneven bars, senior Kiki Holman, who had just returned from an ankle injury, tied Best and Williamson for a 9.8 mark. It was her season best score. Ballard had a 9.775 mark and Meyer had a 9.7.
In the team’s final event, the balance beam, Best and Holman’s 9.825 score gave them a tie for third overall at the meet. Freshman Nicole Krauter also earned a spot on the podium for the event. Her 9.825 mark gave her a sixth-place finish.
After the close finish, Fagan said she knew that it came down to landings and minor technical aspects that kept the team out of the top spot, but wished their competitors good luck on the national stage.
“This has by far been my favorite season as coach and I wish it wasn’t over for us yet, but Oregon State and LSU are great teams and I hope they do well at nationals,” she said.
The NCAA National Championships will be April 16-18 hosted by the University of Nebraska.
Margaret Stahl can be reached at [email protected].
