After nearly two years, it’s almost time for NCAA gymnastics postseason again! We know where each of the top 36 teams in the country will travel to compete for a chance at advancing to nationals, and in the days leading up to the championships, we’ll preview and analyze each of the four regionals, discussing which teams have a chance of moving on each day and which individuals could qualify as well.
First up is the Morgantown regional. Thursday will feature No. 33 Penn State and host No. 35 West Virginia in round one. Friday we jump into round two action with No. 5 California, No. 12 BYU, No. 27 Ohio State and No. 28 Towson competing in the afternoon session and No. 4 Michigan, No. 13 UCLA, No. 29 Kent State and the winner of round one in the evening session. Two teams from each of these Friday competitions will advance to round three on Saturday where the top two from that meet make it to nationals.
There’s also a handful of individuals that will compete on Friday in both of the round two meets. Simply put, the top all arounder and event specialists qualify to nationals. To determine those gymnasts, combine Friday’s individual event and all around results, wait until Saturday’s meet concludes, take out all the gymnasts from the two qualifying teams and take the top individual on each event and in the all around.
Easy enough, right?
For a more in-depth explanation, including how the tie-breaking procedure works (it’s complicated), how the whole format is structured and even how judges are selected, check out our NCAA postseason resource guide.
Finally, don’t forget to enter your postseason predictions in the 2021 bracket challenge! The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, March 31 at 7 p.m. ET. Once you enter, you can follow your progress here. Note that when you submit your picks, it will take up to a few hours to see your submission appear in the standings spreadsheet.
Round One
Date: Thursday, April 1 at 3 p.m. ET
How to Watch: ESPN3
Teams: No. 33 Penn State vs. No. 35 West Virginia
| Team | NQS | Average | High Score | Starting Event |
| No. 33 Penn State | 195.813 | 195.283 | 196.000 | Vault |
| No. 35 West Virginia | 195.769 | 195.190 | 196.100 | Bars |
Background
This regional’s play-in meet should be an exciting matchup between two very closely ranked teams. After an up-and-down season, the Mountaineers managed just enough to secure themselves the opportunity to compete as a full team at their home regional and get a matchup with Penn State, who put up consistent team scores but inconsistent event totals throughout its season. The Nittany Lions have the edge in NQS and average, but West Virginia will make it a battle nevertheless, having posted the highest total between the two teams and also gets the benefit of competing at home.
So You’re Saying There’s a Chance
The Nittany Lions have a big edge over West Virginia on bars, just like the Mountaineers have a big edge over Penn State on floor. If each team is at their best on their strong event. This meet will come down to whichever team can get sticks on vault and stay on beam.
Routines You Shouldn’t Miss
Kiana Lewis has been strong all year on floor for West Virginia and has earned herself an individual spot on Friday already, so watch for her to lead the Mountaineers on their best event, along with Abbie Pierson. The situation is the same for Penn State’s Ava Verdeflor and Alissa Bonsall, who provide the Nittany Lions a great one-two punch on their strongest event, bars.
Round Two
Session One
Date: Friday, April 2 at 1 p.m. ET
How to Watch: ESPN3
Teams: No. 5 California, No. 12 BYU, No. 27 Ohio State and No. 28 Towson
| Team | NQS | Average | High Score | Starting Event |
| No. 5 California | 197.613 | 197.081 | 198.050 | Beam |
| No. 12 BYU | 197.069 | 196.656 | 197.300 | Bars |
| No. 27 Ohio State | 196.194 | 195.594 | 196.400 | Floor |
| No. 28 Towson | 196.006 | 195.077 | 196.150 | Vault |
Background
No. 27 Ohio State 196.194 195.594 196.400
California got off to a later start to its season, but steadily climbed the rankings each week to earn itself a top-five ranking heading into the postseason to put itself in a great position to have some historic results. MRGC champion BYU also had a strong season to give itself a great chance to advance to the regional final and once again assert itself as a nationals dark horse. Ohio State and Towson both enter the postseason as massive underdogs, but each boast individuals who have the ability to keep each team in contention should one of the frontrunners falter.
So You’re Saying There’s a Chance
One big reason the Golden Bears find themselves in the top five is their NCAA record-tying bar lineup. Even when California is a little off on bars, it is still putting up numbers that match those of other foes. BYU doesn’t rely on one standout event and has impressed this season with its ability to be consistent across the board. That consistency, and the Golden Bears’ scoring potential, makes Ohio State and Towson major underdogs, and the Buckeyes and Tigers will need to go 24 for 24 and hope for misses from their foes to advance.
Routines You Shouldn’t Miss
In addition to all six of California’s bar routines, keep an eye on Buckeye Jenna Swartzentruber who has an equally impressive set and can challenge for an individual spot at nationals. Towson’s Amy Stewart should be a bright spot on floor for the Tigers and could challenge California’s Kyana George or BYU’s Abbey Miner Alder for the floor title. Sophia McClelland has an eye-catching beam routine for the Cougars as well. Miner Alder has competed all around in almost every meet; her and Golden Bear Nevaeh DeSouza should have an interesting fight there, with Maya Bordas likely to be in the mix as well. DeSouza’s Yurchenko one and a half looks like an easy favorite for the vault title in this session and should be the highlight of that event.
| All Around | Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor |
| Belle Huang, Rutgers (with Towson) | Katie Chamberlain, Pittsburgh (with Ohio State) | Lauren Beckwith, Pittsburgh (with Ohio State) | ||
| Hannah Joyner, Rutgers (with Towson) | Katrina Coca, Pittsburgh (with Ohio State) |
*Note: Individuals from both round one teams are included in the individual draw to account for one team being eliminated after Thursday’s competition. The spots from the individuals on the advancing team will not be filled.
Individuals to Keep an Eye on
Rutgers’ Hannah Joyner can make a realistic push to qualify to nationals despite not having the benefit of competing with her team at regionals. The sophomore has an NQS above 9.850 on every event, including 9.919 on beam, making her a threat on the event and in the all around.
Session Two
Date: Friday, April 2 at 7 p.m. ET
How to Watch: ESPN3
Teams: No. 4 Michigan, No. 13 UCLA, No. 29 Kent State and No. 33 Penn State or No. 35 West Virginia
| Team | NQS | Average | High Score | Starting Event |
| No. 4 Michigan | 197.800 | 197.197 | 198.100 | Beam |
| No. 13 UCLA | 197.038 | 196.667 | 197.100 | Bars |
| No. 29 Kent State | 195.981 | 195.252 | 196.375 | Floor |
| No. 33 Penn State OR No. 35 West Virginia | — | — | — | Vault |
Background
Despite a few challenges, Michigan has vaulted itself to a top four ranking and positioned itself as the favorite to win this regional and advance to nationals. The Wolverines have been stellar this season and claim a high score over a point higher than UCLA, their biggest challenger in this session. The Bruins haven’t been as strong this year as they have in seasons past, but they still have more than enough talent on their roster to explode for a big score to shock the field with a repeat trip to nationals. Kent State was able to bypass the play-in round and will get the chance to potentially advance individuals to nationals if they can have strong performances.
So You’re Saying There’s a Chance
As long as the Wolverines are able to avoid one of their infamous floor blunders, they should have no problem advancing to round three and eventually onto nationals. UCLA will be heavily favored to advance to round three as well, with Kent State and the winner of the play-in round very outmatched.
Routines You Shouldn’t Miss
Natalie Wojcik has been stellar in the all around this season and has even notched perfect 10s on beam and vault. Wolverine teammates Sierra Brooks and Gabby Wilson will be challengers with her in the all around, as will Bruins Chae Campbell and Margzetta Frazier. One of the individuals Kent State will hope to send to nationals is Abby Fletcher, who has hit 9.875 or better on floor in nine of 11 meets this season. Toshi Richard compliments Fletcher on the event with an NQS of 9.900. She has the potential to sneak into nationals as well.
| All Around | Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor |
| Cassidy Rushlow, Penn State | Kyndall Baze, Lindenwood (with UCLA) | Kylie Gorgenyi, New Hampshire (with Kent State) | Robyn Kelley, New Hampshire (with Kent State) | Melissa Astarita, Penn State/Kendra Combs, West Virginia |
| Aleah Leman, Lindenwood (with UCLA) | Alissa Bonsall, Penn State | Hailey Lui, New Hampshire (with Kent State) | Kiana Lewis, West Virginia | |
| Courtney Mitchell, Lindenwood (with UCLA) | Ava Verdeflor, Penn State | Alyssa Worthington, New Hampshire (with Kent State) | Abbie Pierson, West Virginia | |
| Kylie Gorgenyi, New Hampshire (with Kent State) | ||||
*Note: Individuals from both round one teams are included in the individual draw to account for one team being eliminated after Thursday’s competition. The spots from the individuals on the advancing team will not be filled.
Individuals to Keep an Eye on
Aside from Lewis on floor, bars is where this group of individuals will have its best shot at qualifying for nationals. Verdeflor carries an NQS of 9.900 on the event, with teammate Bonsall and New Hampshire’s Kylie Gorgenyi not far behind in the 9.890s.
Round Three
Date: Saturday, April 3 at 7 p.m. ET
How to Watch: ESPN3
Teams: top two teams from each Friday session
| Starting Event | Team |
| Vault | Session 2, Team 1 |
| Bars | Session 1, Team 1 |
| Beam | Session 1, Team 2 |
| Floor | Session 2, Team 2 |
The Bottom Line
Michigan and California, as long as they don’t get upset in round two, will be the heavy favorites to advance to nationals. The Wolverines likely cannot be matched on vault like the Golden Bears on bars, and both have shown they have the ability to excel on the remaining three events as well. However, the Bruins can have a good chance at an upset if everyone is healthy and hitting. Inconsistency and injury have held them back many times this season, but it’s no secret that UCLA has the talent on its roster to make nationals. The Cougars’ best hopes are with their consistency. If either team opens the door, BYU figures to be right there and ready to pounce on that nationals bid.
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Article by Brandis Heffner and Tara Graeve
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