In the school’s fourth-ever appearance at the NCAA Regional Championships, the Cyclone gymnastics team finished fourth in a highly-competitive division.

Alabama took the Central Region crown with a score of 196.55. Michigan snagged second with a 196.0, followed by Louisiana State with a 195.25 and Iowa State’s total of 193.4.

Freshman Jessy Smith was the star for ISU, carding an eighth-place finish in the all-around. She nailed routines of 9.8 on the balance beam, 9.725 on the uneven bars, 9.65 on the floor exercise and 9.575 on vault.

Smith’s performance landed her a spot as an alternate for the NCAA National Meet at UCLA on Apr. 16-18.

“I was really excited,” Smith said. “I knew I had chances of making it. I knew I had to hit my routines. I’m just happy I did.”

“That is the best effort we’ve ever had from a freshman,” ISU Coach Amy Pyle said. “She did the best routine she could have done.”

Smith’s score placed her 16th nationally, which means that four women must drop out for her to compete. Despite that, she remains optimistic and will continue practicing.

“I’m still hopeful. I just have to wait and see,” she said.

Kayo Merritt scored a 9.825 on the balance beam, which is a tie for seventh place nationally. Angie Umbaugh was the Cyclones’ next best scorer in the event with a 9.775 to take 13th. Kelli More’s routine was good for a 9.625.

Heidi Kirt paced the Cyclones on the vault by scoring a 9.675, which was 15th nationally. Smith’s effort on the vault was the team’s second best.

Umbaugh led the way for the Cyclones in the floor routine, by tallying a 9.75 to tie for 16th place. Libby Bell notched a 9.7. Sarah Hodgson was the top ISU finisher on the uneven bars with a 9.75. She was followed by More and Smith (9.725.)

“Overall, the girls did a great job,” she said.

Smith agreed. “I think we did well. Our scores didn’t really reflect how we did,” she said.

Pyle said the women dealt well with the pressure of the meet and the competition, which included the second-, third- and eighth-ranked teams in the nation.

The Cyclones entered the meet ranked 11th in the country, the highest ever for an ISU squad.

The three squads that placed ahead of ISU all earned team invitations to the NCAA Meet. Pyle said that being that close to a first-ever ISU appearance was tough to swallow but will serve as motivation for next year’s returning Cyclones.

“It just makes you hungrier,” she said.

The meet was the last for six ISU seniors, including Merritt, Bell, Kirt, Tawnya Cary, Shannon Herzog and Amy Wall.

“We’re definitely losing a lot of leadership,” Pyle said. “They really held the team together. They’ll be missed in a lot of ways.”

Pyle said if the team had realized its full potential at regionals, a national appearance could have been possible. But regardless, the team had no reason to be ashamed.

“[They] left the coliseum with their heads held high,” she said.