TWU IS TOP RANKED TEAM HEADING INTO
2006 USAG COLLEGIATE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

ITHACA, N.Y. –Texas Woman’s University enters the 2006 USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championships April 13-15 at Cornell University as the top ranked team after a successful regular season.

          The three-day competition begins with the team semifinals on April 13 at 4:00 p.m.  Next, are the team finals on April 14 at 7:00 p.m.  The individual finals conclude the championships on April 15 at 2:00 p.m.

          In the team semifinals, TWU will start the eight-team meet on the floor exercise.  UC Davis, Rutgers, Seattle Pacific, Centenary, William & Mary, Cornell and Temple are also at the championships.  The top four teams from this competition will advance to the team finals on Friday.  Additionally, the top eight gymnasts in each event during the semifinals move on to the individual finals on Saturday.

          Head coach Frank Kudlac leads the Pioneers into its 14^th year of competition at the USAG meet with a 191.530 regional qualifying score (RQS).  TWU also has the highest ranked gymnast in each event with Courtney Arno on the uneven bars and beam, Nakia Westbrook on the vault and Brisa Fuentes on the floor.

          TWU started the postseason by capturing the Midwest Independent Conference Championship with a season-high score of 193.200. 

          The Pioneers have finished second at the USAG Championships the previous two years after winning its seventh national title in 2003.  Rutgers won the title last season in their first year of USAG competition.