University of Washington
NCAA Nationals
Vaccher Hits All Four Events At NCAA Championships
April 15, 2011 | Gymnastics
April 15, 2011
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Competing as an individual at the NCAA Gymnastics Championships can be a lot of pressure since the sport is team-orientated. Try not only going by yourself, but as a freshman. That is what UW's Aliza Vaccher (Eugene, Ore.) did Friday night at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
The event was hosted by Kent State and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. Vaccher was the lone Husky competitor after finishing second in the all-around at the NCAA Normal Regionals two weeks prior.
"I'm so glad that I got to have this experience," Vaccher said. "I learned a lot and I can't wait to go back with my team and start training again."
There were two sessions on Friday and Vaccher competed in the first as a part of Georgia's rotation. After both sessions were completed and the final results tabulated, Vaccher found out she tied for 19th with Amy Glass of Boise State, posting a 39.075, just shy of her career-high.
"We are so proud of Aliza and the way she represented UW today," said head coach Joanne Bowers. "She hit all four of her routines and got one of her highest AA scores. She competed with the best gymnasts in the country and fit right in. This experience for her as a freshman is invaluable."
Vaccher placed fourth-best out of all freshmen in the all-around, just missing out of earning All-American honors (top 16). It was also the best score by a Husky in the all-around at NCAA Championships since Lauren Riesenman also scored a 39.075 in 1999. She became the second Husky under current head coach Bowers to make NCAA's in the all-around as a freshman, along with this year's graduating senior Haley Bogart.
She tied a career-high on floor with a 9.800. It was the fourth time that she has hit that score this season.
In her session, she finished ninth n the all-around in her session, tied for 27th on vault (9.800), tied for 28th on bars (9.775), tied for 23rd on beam (9.700) and tied for 22nd on floor.
Players Mentioned
