April 18, 2009
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Watch the Beam Awards Ceremony
LINCOLN, Neb. - Fighting Illini sophomore Melissa Fernandez (Eudora, Kan.) became the first Illini gymnast ever to compete in the NCAA Championship individual event finals Saturday night and she didn't disappoint, performing a near-flawless routine to score a 9.8375 and earn a spot on the awards podium in a tie for seventh place. Fernandez's performance wraps-up a banner year for coach Bob Starkell's Fighting Illini, culminating in the team's first-ever appearance at the national championships this weekend and Fernandez's performance tonight.
"I thought I would feel more pressure tonight, but the atmosphere was so relaxed," Fernandez said. "I was a little nervous because I knew all eyes would be focused on me and my teammates weren't down on the floor with me, but I stayed calm and did the best I could. Beam has always been my favorite event, so to earn a sport on the podium at NCAAs is a great feeling."
Competing third among the 11 beam finalists, Fernandez had only a couple small wobbles in an otherwise flawless routine before sticking her dismount to earn the 9.8375 from the six-judge panel. By making it to the beam final Fernandez earned first team All-America status, making her the first gymnast in school history to earn that distinction. She earned the trip to the finals by tying for first place on beam in Thursday's team preliminary session with a 9.900. Fernandez hit a perfect 14-for-14 on beam this season, including 10 scores of 9.825 or better.
"I was very impressed with how composed Mel was tonight," Head Coach Bob Starkell said of Fernandez. "Since Thursday, rather than being nervous, she has really been looking forward to this opportunity. Her personality is the type that thrives on big events like this, so I'm not surprised at her performance at all. Bringing home a trophy is a great way to cap the week and I think it will leave both Mel and the team hungry for next season."
Georgia's Courtney Kupets won three of the four event titles on the night, taking top honors on bars (9.950), beam (9.9875) and tying LSU's Ashleigh Clare-Kearney on floor (9.950) to cap her stellar career. Kupets also won the NCAA individual all-around title on Thursday with a 39.800 and led Georgia to it's fifth straight team championship on Friday night, as the Gym Dogs edged out second place Alabama and third place Utah. In addition to tying Kupets on floor, Clare-Kearney also took first on vault with a 9.900.
Earlier on Saturday, Illini head coach Bob Starkell was named National Coach of the Year and assistants Kim Landrus and Amy Kruse were named Co-National Assistant Coaches of the Year by the NACGC/W at the annual NCAA Championship banquet. Also at the banquet, Fernandez and junior Sarah Schmidt were presented with their All-America Awards. Schmidt earned her second team accolades on floor exercise to join Fernandez on the beam first team, giving Illinois two All-Americans in one season for the first time in school history.
2009 National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships
Event Finals Balance Beam Results
1. Courtney Kupets, Georgia 9.9875
2. Courtney McCool, Georgia 9.9500
3. Ashley Priess, Alabama 9.9000
3. Sarah Nagashima, Arkansas 9.9000
3. Kristina Baskett, Utah 9.9000
6. Elise Wheeler, Southern Utah 9.8750
7. Melissa Fernandez, Illinois 9.8375
7. Megan Ferguson, Oklahoma 9.8375
9. Alex LaChance, Arkansas 9.8250
10. Ricki Lebegern, Alabama 9.8000
11. Vanessa Zamarripa, UCLA 9.7625
