While there was less controversy than in years past with more straightforward selections, the NCAA gymnastics selection show was still not drama-free. Hosting conflicts and an unexpected change in procedure headline the storylines of the reveal, as it’s time to take a look at who benefits and who is at a deficit in the 2024 postseason bracket.
Winners
Emily Erb and Kayla Pardue
The selection committee chose not to follow its own tie-break rules, choosing to break a tie with a gymnast’s highest score rather than her highest non-NQS score. The change worked in the favor of Kayla Pardue, who will compete on vault, and Emily Erb, who will compete on floor. While the change makes no sense and seems like a mistake, we will not hold that against Pardue and Erb, who should still celebrate their achievements.
Emma Spence and Gianna Gerdes
While Nebraska and Minnesota are placed in the tough Fayetteville regional, the all-around qualification picture is fairly wide open at the top (unless, of course, Jade Carey chooses to compete all four). The highest-ranked individual outside of likely qualifiers LSU and Kentucky is Gianna Gerdes. Spence is fresh off topping Gerdes at Big Tens, albeit by the slimmest of margins possible. They are poised to battle for a ticket to Fort Worth.
Suki Pfister
No vaulters in Ann Arbor are ranked ahead of Pfister. She has traveled to the Norman regional each of the last two years and placed well but has never qualified to nationals. Perhaps this is the senior’s year now in a new location and with a perfect 10 on her resume.
Siblings
Making things much easier for two sets of families with two daughters competing in NCAA gymnastics, both the Frazier sisters and Brusch sisters will compete at the Berkeley regional. Should seeds hold, it will be a sister showdown in the regional final, with Margzetta Frazier competing for UCLA, eMjae Frazier for California, Mila Brush for Denver, and Aria Brusch for Auburn.
Losers
Bailey Libby, Brooke Donabedian, and Elizabeth Cesarone
Because the selection committee didn’t follow its own rules, Libby and Donabedian missed out on floor spots while Cesarone was booted from vault. It feels especially galling for Donabedian, who would’ve been Temple’s lone representative in the tournament. As it stands, the Owls aren’t sending anyone to regionals.
Update: Libby, Donabedian, and Cesarone were added to the field on Tuesday after the mistake was realized and rectified. Erb and Pardue will remain as individuals as well.
Michigan State
Despite earning the No. 10 seed, due to hosting conflicts shuffling the spots, the Spartans were essentially relegated to the 12-spot and put into the incredibly tough Gainesville Regional. Along with Utah and Towson, Michigan State is one of three conference champions at the regional that posted at least a 197 last weekend, with the host and No. 4 seeded Gators to contend with as well. It’s a tricky road to nationals for the Spartans.
Ohio State
N.C. State used its historic score at ACCs to sneak past the Buckeyes last weekend and secure the last seeded regionals spot. Ohio State now has to face the Wolfpack in the same session in Ann Arbor, competing together as No. 16 vs. No. 17. Brutal, as more than likely only one will advance alongside the top-ranked Sooners to the regional final.
Isabella Minervini and Mara Titarsolej
The fight for the individual spot on bars in Gainesville is going to be fierce, as a duo of the nation’s best are expected to have a showdown to advance. Barring neither Towson nor Missouri make a run to nationals, at best, we’ll only see one of the two projected All-Americans competing in Fort Worth.
BYU
While the selection committee finally got it right in having the eight lowest-ranked teams competing the in play-ins, there was still some shuffling that resulted in some competitive imbalances in the first round. It’s unclear whether teams were switched due to geography or the rule that BYU cannot compete on Sundays, but the Cougars are ranked high enough to be the favorite in their first round matchup and won’t be. No. 32 BYU will take on No. 29 Boise State in the opening matchups.
Geography
The trend from the selection committee the last few season has been having no consistency when it comes to assigning qualifiers to regionals, and this season was no different. There are individuals from Central Michigan heading to Arkansas instead of Ann Arbor, Iowa State is Florida-bound while Iowa individuals will be on the West Coast, and more interesting gems the longer you look at the assignments. And, without any notes, reasoning, or explanation, the gymternet will be left continuing to wonder why.
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Article by Brandis Heffner and Emily Minehart
I’m surprised CGN didn’t even mention Lily Smith or JaFree Scott as an individual that will be in the running for a bars spot in Gainesville.
Also, Carey has competed AA in the last few meets for OSU. I fully expect her to compete AA again unless they just decide Nationals isn’t worth it and to focus on the Olympics.
Two more sibling competing at the same regional. The Jencks sisters one at Minnesota the other at Nebraska are both at the same Regional Site.
This is my first year in the college gymnastics world & so I’m still learning the qualifying system. My granddaughter is a freshman at Iowa St. and has recently competed in 3 events. They grabbed the last qualifying spot in Oklahoma at the Big 12 championship. New coaching staff & they have done an amazing job with numerous freshman contributing. I’m happy for their opportunity in Gainesville & watching their success in the future.