Falcons Set to Face Two Nationally-Ranked Teams
3/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
March 2, 2016
FalconVision Interview with Coach Day
The Air Force women gymnastics team remains in Colorado this weekend for a pair of meets against nationally-ranked teams. The Falcons will travel to Denver on Friday, March 4, to face 13th-ranked Denver and 19th-ranked Minnesota, while the Pioneers and Gophers will travel to the Academy on Sunday, March 6, for Air Force's final home meet of the 2016 season.
Meet Notes 09: vs Denver, Minnesota 
MEET INFORMATION
Live stats will be available for Friday's triangular at Denver via DenverPioneers.com, while live video will be available for Sunday's home meet at GoAirForceFalcons.com.
SENIOR SALUTE
Air Force will honor its three seniors -- Joey Ching, Shannen Kelly, Sarah Neumann -- following its final home competition of the 2016 season on Sunday, March 6.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION: #13 DENVER
Denver enters the week ranked 13th in the national standings with a regional qualifying score of 196.210. The Pioneers posted a season-high 197.525 -- and the second-highest score in DU history -- last Saturday (Feb. 27) during a home victory over 17th-ranked Iowa (196.075), Illinois-Chicago (193.000) and Southeast Missouri (192.650). DU is led by two-time All-American Nina McGee, who is tied for first nationally on the floor exercise (9.935) and ranked third in the all-around (39.150).
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION: #19 MINNESOTA
Ranked 19th in the national standings, Minnesota holds a regional qualifying score of 195.850. The Gophers are coming off of an easy home victory at the Best of Minnesota event on Saturday, Feb. 27. Minnesota registered a 196.200 to defeat the field of Winona State (184.825), Gustavus Adolphus (184.300) and Hamline (184.300) by more than 11 points. The Gophers are led by senior Lindsay Mable, who holds top-10 national marks on the balance beam (9.895, seventh) and all-around (39.430, eighth).
ALL ABOUT CONNECTIONS
The Gophers have four current gymnasts from the state of Colorado -- Bailey Abernathy (Denver), Bailie Holst (Frederick), Lindsay Mable (Aurora) and Rachel Rowland (Parker) -- while Air Force has one gymnast from Minnesota -- Sarah Neumann (Corcoran). In addition, Air Force head coach Doug Day spent nine years (1997-2006) as an assistant coach at Minnesota, before beginning his stint at the Academy.
LOOKING AROUND THE CONFERENCE
Highlighted by a #9 ranking from Sarah Neumann, the Falcons have four gymnasts listed among the top 15 of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, based on Regional Qualifying Scores. Neumann is currently tied for ninth on the balance beam with a RQS of 9.710, while Shannen Kelly is ranked 12th on that event with a 9.680. Kara Witgen holds a pair of top-15 rankings, as she is listed 13th on both the floor exercise (9.745) and uneven bars (9.665).
WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE FALCONS
Air Force will head to "The Last Frontier" next week for a pair of contests against Mountain Pacific Sports Federation foe Alaska. The Falcons will face the Seawolves in dual meets on Friday, March 11, and Sunday, March 13, at the Alaska Airlines Arena in Anchorage.
Players Mentioned
