Source: OhioStateBuckeyes.com
Posted: Thursday, April 16, 2009 8:10:00 PM EST
Published: Thursday, April 16, 2009 8:12:04 PM EST
Posted: Thursday, April 16, 2009 8:10:00 PM EST
Published: Thursday, April 16, 2009 8:12:04 PM EST
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Sophomore Rebecca Best finished session one of the 2009 NCAA Championships as a second team All-American on the floor exercise after scoring a 9.850 to finish in sixth place during session one Thursday of the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships hosted by the University of Nebraska. The Williamstown, N.J., native qualified as an individual in the all-around for the national championships and wrapped up the day in a tie for 18th place in the all-around with a 39.050, highlighted by the sixth-place finish on floor and a career-high tying 9.850 mark on vault to take 11th place.
""There are so many tremendous competitors at the national championships,"" head coach Carey Fagan said. ""To be named an All-American is such an incredible honor and I cannot wait to put Rebecca['s photo] on the wall in Steelwood with the rest of our All-Americans.""
Best is the sixth Buckeye to take home All-American honors at the NCAA Championships, following in the footsteps of former teammate and 2008 honoree Kaylan Clevinger, who earned second-team recognition on the bars with a 9.900 score. Prior to Clevinger, the Buckeyes had not had an All-American since Lindsey Vagedes in 1999.
Best posted the 9.850 on vault in rotation one to begin her first national appearance at the NCAA Championships, to which she traveled to as an alternate in 2008. She followed the career showing on vault with a 9.775 on uneven bars before taking in a 9.575 on beam after faltering slightly on the dismount. She wrapped up the day with the sixth-place finish on floor with a 9.850 to take the No. 18 in all-around at 39.050.
""I am definitely very proud of how Rebecca handled the pressure – it was like a true veteran,"" Fagan said. ""Being at this kind of event without your teammates is very hard after they have been there all year for support. I thought that Rebecca put up three of her best performances of the year (on vault, bars and floor).""
Best entered the NCAA Championships with a 39.032 average in the all-around after competing in the event in all but one meet this season. She was tied for No. 49 in the nation and ranked ninth in the central region in the all-around. Best led Ohio State in the all-around five times this season and had one meet win, posting a career-high 39.350 in the all-around in her last two meets and scored a 39.275 in the two meets prior.
""There are so many tremendous competitors at the national championships,"" head coach Carey Fagan said. ""To be named an All-American is such an incredible honor and I cannot wait to put Rebecca['s photo] on the wall in Steelwood with the rest of our All-Americans.""
Best is the sixth Buckeye to take home All-American honors at the NCAA Championships, following in the footsteps of former teammate and 2008 honoree Kaylan Clevinger, who earned second-team recognition on the bars with a 9.900 score. Prior to Clevinger, the Buckeyes had not had an All-American since Lindsey Vagedes in 1999.
Best posted the 9.850 on vault in rotation one to begin her first national appearance at the NCAA Championships, to which she traveled to as an alternate in 2008. She followed the career showing on vault with a 9.775 on uneven bars before taking in a 9.575 on beam after faltering slightly on the dismount. She wrapped up the day with the sixth-place finish on floor with a 9.850 to take the No. 18 in all-around at 39.050.
""I am definitely very proud of how Rebecca handled the pressure – it was like a true veteran,"" Fagan said. ""Being at this kind of event without your teammates is very hard after they have been there all year for support. I thought that Rebecca put up three of her best performances of the year (on vault, bars and floor).""
Best entered the NCAA Championships with a 39.032 average in the all-around after competing in the event in all but one meet this season. She was tied for No. 49 in the nation and ranked ninth in the central region in the all-around. Best led Ohio State in the all-around five times this season and had one meet win, posting a career-high 39.350 in the all-around in her last two meets and scored a 39.275 in the two meets prior.
