The Iowa State gymnastics team prepares to compete in NCAA regional championships as the No. 4 seed.

The Cyclones have participated in the regionals three times (1994, 1996, 1997) before qualifying for this year’s meet, scheduled for April 4 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

“Well, we are obviously thrilled,” said ISU Coach Amy Pyle.

“We’ve worked long and hard and are finally being recognized across the country.”

The Cyclones have gone to the regionals as the No. 4 seed previously, but their No. 11 national ranking is the highest mark the team has ever landed.

Sophomore Kelli More and senior Kayo Merritt are ISU’s top tumblers on the balance beam.

More earned a Big 12 title on the beam for earning a 9.95 for her beam routine last weekend. She is only the third Cyclone to earn a conference title since 1978. Currently she holds the No. 3 spot in the nation in the event, while her teammate Merritt sits 11th.

Merritt, along Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Angie Umbaugh, shared second place in balance beam event with a score of 9.9 at the Big 12 meet.

“We’re just going to go in and do the best job we can, ” Pyle said. “We’re going to work hard and yet have fun along the way.”

The Cyclones hope to qualify the squad for the national championships, which would be a first for a gymnastics team in the history of ISU.

The NCAA Nationals will be held April 16-18 at UCLA.

Other potential national qualifiers are sophomore Sarah Stayberg and freshman Jessy Smith in the all-around.

Stayberg and Smith have recorded career-highs of 39.0 and 39.2 respectively in the all-around. Umbaugh will compete on beam and floor. Her best scores include a 9.9 in both events.