April 17, 2008
SHREVPORT, LA -. Coming off a season-best performance at the ECAC Championships, the Temple women's gymnastics will look to continue upon their late -season surge as the Owls will be competing at the USAG National Championships from Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana beginning tonight and continuing throughout the weekend.
The Owls enter the competition as the #8 seed, as they were the last team to qualify after a fifth place finish at the ECAC Championships. At the ECAC Championships, the Owls posted a season-high 190.825 to earn the last spot in the field. Senior Desiree Meredith took home fifth place on the floor exercise (9.800) at the ECAC Championships while junior Nina Oteri took home fourth on the balance beam (9.825).
The Owls will be competing in Session I, along with No.2 Towson, No.4 Cornell and No.6 Air Force, this afternoon. Session II will take place this evening and includes No.1 Texas Woman's University, No. 3 Centenary, No.5 William & Mary, and No.7 Seattle Pacific.
The top two teams from each session will advance to the team finals on Friday at 7 p.m. The winner of Friday evening's competition will be crowned as the 2008 USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Champions. Saturday's individual finals will begin at 1:30 p.m. and will feature the top five individuals plus ties on each apparatus from each session of Thursday's semi-final rounds. The winner on Saturday on each event will become the 2008 National Champion. All four sessions can be viewed via live video feed at www.GoCentenary.com
