Gymnastics Competes in EAGL Championship on Saturday, March 24, at 2 p.m.

2012 EAGL Championship, hosted by University of Pittsburgh
March 24, 2012 • 2:00 p.m. • Fitzgerald Field House • Pittsburgh, Pa.

Ali Carr

EAGL ROTATION
The Wildcats will begin Saturday's EAGL Championship on vault in the opening rotation. Senior co-captain Ali Carr, EAGL's ninth-ranked gymnast on vault, leads UNH with an average score of 9.823 and a high score of 9.875. Carr has held at least a share of the team's top vault score in nine of 11 meets this season. Expect her to be joined in the vault lineup by Jillian Hudson, Courtney Connors, Hannah Barile, Erika Rudiger and Austyn Fobes.

Following a second rotation bye, Fobes will spearhead the Wildcats' bar lineup with a No. 4 EAGL ranking, an average score of 9.825 and a high of 9.925. Other probable bar competitors include Danielle Reibold, Jen Aucoin, Carr, Rudiger and Hudson.

After a fourth-rotation bye, freshman Kayla Gray, EAGL's sixth-ranked balance beam gymnast, headlines UNH's beam contingent with an average tally of 9.634 and a season-high 9.900. Gray will be complemented by Carr, Jannelle Minichiello, Fobes, Aucoin and Reibold.

The 'Cats receive a bye in the sixth rotation before heading to floor exercise in the seventh rotation. Erin Machado leads the squad with an average score of 9.780, and she is knotted with Barile with an RQS of 9.790 and a season-high of 9.850. Seniors Kate McGeever and Tasia Percevecz will also be counted upon for solid floor routines, with Gray and Fobes also contending for a spot in the lineup.

Austyn Fobes

FOBES COMES AROUND
After being slowed by a preseason wrist injury that sidelined her for the first two meets, Austyn Fobes is slated to compete in the all-around for the first time this season. Fobes, who competed on vault for the first time all year last week at No. 8 Oregon State, earned All-EAGL First Team and EAGL All-Tournament First Team honors in AA in 2011.

UPHILL BATTLE
The Wildcats will be without the services of freshman Adrienne Hill for the second consecutive meet. Hill, who suffered a concussion during the Senior Day meet against No. 17 Arizona on March 11, has been a consistent contributor on three events (vault, bars, beam) during her rookie season.

STRIVING FOR AN NCAA BID

The Wildcats are on the brink of qualifying for the NCAA Regional Championships for the 30^th time in 31 years. Here is how UNH stacks up against other teams in the mix for a spot in the 36-team field:

(As of March 19)

Rank         Team                  RQS                              League
30.         Illinois-Chicago    194.865                        Independent
31.         Michigan State     194.840                         Big Ten
32.           UNH    194.715                           EAGL
33.         San Jose State     194.690                            WAC
34.           BYU                   194.685                       Independent
35.         Maryland              194.645                            EAGL
36.         North Carolina      194.525                            EAGL
37.       Western Michigan   194.375                             MAC
38.       Central Michigan     194.330                            MAC
39.          Pittsburgh            194.295                           EAGL
40.          Bridgeport            194.260                           ECAC
41.       Sacramento State     194.160                          WAC

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