(Tempe, AZ) For the seventh-straight season, Sun Devil Gymnastics qualified for NCAA Regionals and is heading to the Washington Regional in Seattle, competing in the first session of the second round on April 4 against No. 7 seed Missouri, No. 10 seed Georgia and Arizona.
Arizona State earns a postseason bid for the seventh-straight season. In addition to the first-session teams, the Washington Regional has No. 2 seed Oklahoma, No. 15 seed Auburn and Nebraska in the second session, as well as the winner of the first-round matchup on April 3 between Illinois and UC Davis. The top two teams from each session of the second round will move on to the regional finals on April 6.
The Sun Devils have qualified for the last eight seasons in a row, including the 2020 season that was canceled prior to postseason though the team was in firm position in the NQS to be a lock. In three of the last four seasons, the Gym Devils have advanced to the regional finals.
The championship features 36 teams determined based on their national qualifying score. Regionals are held over multiple days. The first round will consist of two teams in a play-in meet, second round will consist of eight teams in two sessions and the regional final will consist of four teams. The top two teams, the top all-around competitors and the top event specialist on each event (who are not on an advancing team) from each regional will receive an automatic berth to the national championships from April 17-19 in Fort Worth, Texas.
For full brackets and more information, head to the NCAA’s website.
Team Information
In the first season as a member of the Big 12 Conference, Arizona State (10-10, 2-4 Big 12) and ninth-year head coach Jay Santos put together a solid season after losing half of the starting lineups from 2024. The Sun Devils ended the regular season with a 196.310 National Qualifying Score (NQS), the eighth season in a row with an NQS over 196.000. There were six scores over 196.000 this season, including a season-best 196.800 at Cal Quad 1 on March 14. Despite falling just short of a winning record, the Gym Devils continued the streak of not having a losing season since 2017. At the first Big 12 Championships last weekend, ASU finished in fifth with a 195.975.
The three fifth years have been key for the Sun Devils across all of the lineups. Graduate Emily White has earned an all-around score of 39.100 or higher in nine meets this season. On top of that, the graduate has earned a score of 9.900 or higher nine times this season, with six of them coming on floor. She leads the team in event titles with 14, with four on each beam, floor and in the all-around. She was named to the All-Big 12 Team on floor and in the all-around.
Fellow graduate Sarah Clark has been a stalwart on bars and beam all season, as well as contributing on floor. On bars, she has scored at least a 9.800 all but once this season, including four scores of 9.900 or better. Since January 26, on beam she has not scored below a 9.800. She is second on the team in event titles with five, three on bars and two on beam. For her efforts, she earned All-Big 12 Team honors on bars.
The third fifth year is graduate Jada Mangahas, who had a slow start to the season after coming back from injury. She spent the majority of the season competing on vault and bars, eventually adding floor back to her repertoire. She has three 9.900s this season, two on vault and one on bars. In her four floor routines she’s done, she has yet to score below a 9.800. She has three event titles, two on vault and one on bars. She was named to the All-Big 12 Team on vault.
Emerging as an all-arounder this season was junior Kimberly Smith. She was in the all-around in all but one meet and has one all-around title (as well as a bars title). Her most consistent event has been bars, where she has scored a 9.800 or better all but once and a career-high 9.925. She has two other 9.900s this season as well, both coming on floor. She was named to the All-Big 12 Team for the all-around.
Three other event title winners were junior Kayla Lee, junior Isabella Kowan and sophomore Lilia Purler. There also have been contributions from freshmen Halle Braaflat and Tiara Platkin, junior Caroline Lichtmanand a recent return from injury for sophomore Halle Gregoire.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Kimberlie Haner
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