University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Panthers Qualify for 2018 NCAA Gymnastics Regional Championship
3/26/2018 4:42:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
Panthers Set to Compete at Columbus Regional
PITTSBURGH – Under first-year head coach Samantha Snider, the University of Pittsburgh gymnastics team has been selected to compete in the 2018 NCAA National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Regional Championship for the first time since 2013, as announced by the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Committee Monday afternoon.
The squad is headed to the Columbus Regional, which will be hosted by Ohio State University at St. John Arena Saturday, April 7 at 6 p.m. Pitt was tabbed the fifth seed in the region and is set to compete against UCLA, Arkansas, Boise State, Ohio State and Kent State.
The Panthers, who rank 33rd nationally with a 195.825 Regional Qualifying Score (RQS), will be appearing in their 21st NCAA Regional competition in program history. In their last showing in 2013, Pitt finished fifth at the Gainesville Regional.
In her first year at the helm, Snider and her staff have led the Panthers to a record-breaking season. The squad has entered the record books on multiple occasions, posting at least one top 10 score in program history in every event this year.
Most notably, the 2018 team owns four of the top 10 overall scores in program history, including a second-best mark of 196.475. The squad also broke the all-time record on bars with a 49.275, while tying the top mark on beam with a 49.125. This Panthers own five of the top 10 scores on bars, three on beam, two on vault and one on floor.
Individually, Snider has coached Haley Brechwald to EAGL Rookie of the Year honors after the freshman posted a phenomenal debut season. Brechwald earned an EAGL-record six Rookie of the Week awards and collected 12 individual titles in 11 meets. She now owns three of the top 10 all-around scores in program history after recording her second 39.325 at the EAGL Championship, which is tied for eighth in the record books. She also owns the fourth-best score with a 39.375.
ABOUT THE CHAMPIONSHIP
The championship is comprised of 36 teams determined by their regional qualifying score and seeded by the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Committee. Six Regionals consisting of six teams, four all-around competitors (not on a qualifying team) and two individual specialists per event (not on a qualifying team) will be conducted at predetermined campus sites.
Advancing from regional competition to the national championships will be a total of 12 teams and 12 all-around competitors and event specialists. 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 addition, the event winners at each regional will advance to the national championships (in that event only) if they are not part of a qualifying team or an all-around qualifier. Full details of the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships field in St. Louis will be determined on April 9.
PURCHASE TICKETS
Tickets for the Columbus Regional are priced at $15 for adults and $10 for students and youth ages 12 and under. Groups of 20 or more may purchase tickets at a discounted rate of $8. Children under two will be free but must sit on a parent/guardian's lap.
Fans can purchase tickets online here or in person at the Athletics Ticket Office located in the Schottenstein Center.
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