The NCAA championships selection show always brings drama and intrigue. Whether it’s a team ranked in the top 28 being assigned to round one or a highly ranked individual specialist being assigned to a regional where it will be almost impossible to advance to nationals, there are always a handful of winners and losers on the day. We’re diving into those teams and individuals, why they lucked out or didn’t, and what needs to happen for them to be gymnastics’ Cinderella story in 2023.
Losers
Arizona
As the 28th-ranked team in the nation, the Wildcats would’ve earned a first-round bye if all 36 postseason teams were seeded. But since that’s not how the gymnastics postseason works and there are “geography” rules for selection, Arizona will instead take part in the first-round dual meets. An extra day of competition makes an upset run to NCAAs even trickier for the Wildcats and hopeful individuals.
LIU, UC Davis, and Utah State Individuals
Has the selection committee looked at a map? Apparently only in regard to team placement. Individuals seem to have been thrown at a dart board. Mara Titarsolej, Syd Morris and Ilka Juk will travel across the country from Long Island to Los Angeles, while Keanna Abraham, Megan Ray, Sofi Sullivan and Brianna…
