2008 Woodie Awards
Gymnastics competes at Regionals for first time in four years
By: Sean Shapiro
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: Sports
While as a team BG's season ended with a dismal seventh place finish in the MAC championships, March 29 at Kent State, two Falcons got to compete one more time last Saturday in the NCAA regionals.
Sophomore Breanne Guy and senior Jacque Bernhardt both traveled to Baton Rouge, the first time BG has sent an athlete to regionals in four years. For Guy it was her second trip to regionals, her first with Arkansas last season, and the first time she competed in the all-around.
Bernhardt, who was a team leader all year on the vault, got to compete in her specialty for the last time on one of the biggest stages.
"It was really exciting. I was an assistant coach the last time we sent an athlete to regionals," said coach Kerrie Beach. "To have seen it then and then wait such a long time to get there was exciting. Having sent two athletes shows we're really taking the program in the right direction."
Both athletes did not disappoint as Bernhardt finished her collegiate career finishing 25th overall in the vault with a score of 9.775.
Winning the vault competition was Louisiana State University's Ashleigh Claire-Kearney, who recorded a perfect 10, the only one of the night.
Coach Beach was impressed with Bernhardt's performance, as she was able to perform well out of her usual element and finish her career on a strong note.
"Jacque did an absolutely great job, that was one of her better vaults this year," Beach said.
"It's very hard to compete as an individual and score well when, with your team, you're trying to build score after score on an event. When you're by yourself it's more challenging, so while her score may not be the best of the season, it was one of her better vaults."
While Bernhardt completed her career, Guy still has two more years and showed why she was BG's MVP this season, placing 16th in the all-around competition.
On the night, Guy recorded a 38.175, performing well in all four categories despite a fall on the balance beam, which was her weak point all season.
Guy's best finishes came on floor, where she finished 35th overall, and vault, where she took 21st.
"I think I could've done better, but that's just me. I'm hard on myself," Guy said. "Vault went really well, I was happy with that."
As Guy returns next season, coach Beach and the Falcons look to improve over the off-season and qualify as a team for regionals next season.
"We've told Bre and Jacque to relay the experience to the team, so they understand the excitement, what it was like to be competing in that setting, the huge crowd, and really help use that to show that the MAC is not the end of the season," Beach said.
"There is still more to be done."
Beach believes that if BG stays healthy next year, they can get to regionals, as they will return nine letter winners and 16 athletes to a team that went 9-12 this past season.
Sophomore Breanne Guy and senior Jacque Bernhardt both traveled to Baton Rouge, the first time BG has sent an athlete to regionals in four years. For Guy it was her second trip to regionals, her first with Arkansas last season, and the first time she competed in the all-around.
Bernhardt, who was a team leader all year on the vault, got to compete in her specialty for the last time on one of the biggest stages.
"It was really exciting. I was an assistant coach the last time we sent an athlete to regionals," said coach Kerrie Beach. "To have seen it then and then wait such a long time to get there was exciting. Having sent two athletes shows we're really taking the program in the right direction."
Both athletes did not disappoint as Bernhardt finished her collegiate career finishing 25th overall in the vault with a score of 9.775.
Winning the vault competition was Louisiana State University's Ashleigh Claire-Kearney, who recorded a perfect 10, the only one of the night.
Coach Beach was impressed with Bernhardt's performance, as she was able to perform well out of her usual element and finish her career on a strong note.
"Jacque did an absolutely great job, that was one of her better vaults this year," Beach said.
"It's very hard to compete as an individual and score well when, with your team, you're trying to build score after score on an event. When you're by yourself it's more challenging, so while her score may not be the best of the season, it was one of her better vaults."
While Bernhardt completed her career, Guy still has two more years and showed why she was BG's MVP this season, placing 16th in the all-around competition.
On the night, Guy recorded a 38.175, performing well in all four categories despite a fall on the balance beam, which was her weak point all season.
Guy's best finishes came on floor, where she finished 35th overall, and vault, where she took 21st.
"I think I could've done better, but that's just me. I'm hard on myself," Guy said. "Vault went really well, I was happy with that."
As Guy returns next season, coach Beach and the Falcons look to improve over the off-season and qualify as a team for regionals next season.
"We've told Bre and Jacque to relay the experience to the team, so they understand the excitement, what it was like to be competing in that setting, the huge crowd, and really help use that to show that the MAC is not the end of the season," Beach said.
"There is still more to be done."
Beach believes that if BG stays healthy next year, they can get to regionals, as they will return nine letter winners and 16 athletes to a team that went 9-12 this past season.
Be the first to comment on this story