ISU gymnastics selected for Alabama regional
Photo: Megan Wolff/Iowa State Da
Elizabeth Stranahan balances on the beam, at which she scored a 9.700. Iowa State hosted the Big 12 Championship in gymnastics on Saturday, March 23, 2013, at Hilton Coliseum. The championship featured Iowa State, Oklahoma and West Virginia. Oklahoma took the championship with a score of 197.200. Iowa State scored 196.175 and West Virginia scored 194.675.
March 26, 2013
The ISU gymnastics team erupted into joyful applause in its team room on March 25, 2013 upon hearing the news it will be competing in an NCAA Regional meet in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Iowa State (5-12, 1-3 Big 12) will travel to Tuscaloosa to take on No. 3 Alabama, No. 9 Utah, No. 15 Denver, Kent State and Brigham Young on April 6 in the regional meet. The Cyclones have faced Kent State already this season, winning 193.625-193.575.
“I couldn’t be more happy about us being selected to go to Alabama,” said ISU coach Jay Ronayne. “I feel very comfortable going against the teams we are pitted up against. That’s about the best answer I can give you. I can tell you we’ll be at the best we have been all season.”
Senior Elizabeth Stranahan said the team is excited to compete at Alabama for the first time in six years. In Iowa State’s previous two regionals at Alabama, it placed second.
“It was the region I was hoping for. I think it’s a really great regional,” Stranahan said. “I think [the team] is incredibly excited. The other teams we’re going up against, they’re tough teams and we’ll have to bring our best, but it’s completely possible.”
Although Iowa State has not competed at Alabama since 2007, it is familiar with the Crimson Tide. Both Stranahan and junior Michelle Shealy grew up just hours away from Tuscaloosa in Georgia.
Ronayne has also had experience with Auburn. He was an assistant coach at rival Auburn before coming to Iowa State and has taken the Tigers to compete at Alabama many times.
“When I found out it was between Florida and Alabama, I just obviously started crying,” Shealy said. “I’m so excited to go down near my home state so I can have some family [time] there.”
Ronayne said the Cyclones’ familiarity with Alabama and the large crowd the Crimson Tide usually draws will be an advantage for them in the regional meet.
“One thing I’ve discovered about the Alabama crowd is that since they like gymnastics, and if you’re not Auburn and if you’re not Georgia, they support you,” Ronayne said. “I know our team is ready to embrace that electric atmosphere and I think they are more than ready for that.”
