Michigan Women's Gym Competes at Individual Event Finals

Fifth-year senior Lauren Mirkovich (Burlingame, Calif./Notre Dame) of the University of Michigan women's gymnastics team wrapped up her collegiate career with a seventh-place finish on the uneven bars at the NCAA Individual Event Championships, while freshman Tatjana Thuener-Rego (Miami, Fla./American School) placed eighth on the balance beam in her first nationals Saturday (April 22) at Gill Coliseum on the campus of Oregon State University.

Mirkovich performed the second-to-last routine of the night, needing a score of 9.8500 or better for a chance at a national title. Three gymnasts had already fallen before Mirkovich, adding extra pressure to her routine. Mirkovich started strong and performed a solid routine but a minor step on her dismount contributed to a 9.7625 score.

Thuener-Rego competed in her first individual event finals, performing third in the first flight on the balance beam and scoring 9.7625 behind a pair of national champion Gym Dogs, sophomore Nikki Childs and freshman Tiffany Tolnay. Thuener-Rego put together a solid performance before the packed crowd at Gill Coliseum, finishing in eighth place and drawing cheers from fans from all schools.

Vault

1. Ashley Miles, Alabama 9.9380

2. Kristina Comforte, UCLA 9.9000

3. Kate Richardson, UCLA 9.8313

4. Janet Anson, Iowa St. 9.8250

Emily Parsons, Nebraska 9.8250

6. April Burkholder, LSU 9.8188

7. Nicolle Ford, Utah 9.7875

8. Ashley Postell, Utah 9.7813

9. Tiffany Tolnay, Georgia 9.7750

10. Gritt Hofmann, Utah 9.7250

Bars

1. Kristina Baskett, Utah 9.8500

2. Courtney Kupets, Georgia 9.8500

3. Ashley Kelly, Arizona St. 9.8375

4. Katie Heenan, Georgia 9.8000

5. Ashley Postell, Utah 9.7875

6. Nicolle Ford, Utah 9.7750

7. LAUREN MIRKOVICH, MICHIGAN 9.7625

8. April Burkholder, LSU 9.7500

9. Tabitha Yim, Stanford 9.3250

10. Vanessa Meloche, Nebraska 9.2375

11. Stephanie LoPiccolo, Oklahoma 9.0750

Beam

1. April Burkholder, LSU 9.9125

Courtney Kupets, Georgia 9.9125

3. Tiffany Tolnay, Georgia 9.8500

4. Terin Humphrey, Alabama 9.8250

5. Nikki Childs, Georgia 9.8125

Corey Hartung, Florida 9.8125

7. Ashley Postell, Utah 9.8000

8. TATJANA THUENER-REGO, MICHIGAN 9.7625

Floor

1. Courtney Kupets, Georgia 9.9375

2. Janet Anson, Iowa St. 9.9125

Ashley Miles, Alabama 9.9125

Kate Richardson, UCLA 9.9125

Tabitha Yim, Stanford 9.9125

6. Emily Parsons, Nebraska 9.9000

7. Kelsey Erickson, Georgia 9.8500

8. April Burkholder, LSU 9.8375

Corey Hartung, Florida 9.8375

10. Trisha Woo, Nebraska 9.7500

11. Savannah Evans, Florida 9.6625