Two decades on, the 2006 NCAA Championships still rival contemporary meets for difficult and exciting gymnastics. Hosted by Oregon State University, the championship celebrated the event’s 25th anniversary by highlighting memorable past champions like Utah’s Megan (McCunniff) Marsden, Kentucky’s Jenny Hansen, and Heather Brink and Richelle Simpson of Nebraska.
Fans revisiting the meet will recognize plenty more familiar names. Only a freshman that season, Courtney Kupets established her dominance in the league early, taking home the all-around title and sharing the bars and beam titles. The Super Six included the initial appearance of Iowa State in the final, and watching a young KJ Kindler speak with pride about the accomplishment is bittersweet, knowing 2006 would ultimately be the only finals appearance for the program before its discontinuation. Olympian Terin Humphrey was a key contributor for Alabama, and Megan (Dowlen) Haught -recently appointed an assistant coach at her alma mater – makes an appearance as well.
Georgia entered as the defending champion, while UCLA, the 2004 champion, failed to qualify. Alabama led Georgia by one tenth at the halfway point, but Georgia ultimately bested the field by nearly a point, while Utah, despite finishing the meet on a bye, edged out the Crimson Tide for second place after Alabama had to count a fall on beam. While the outcome is not a nailbiter, sit back and enjoy the best routines from this vintage classic that’ll satisfy your cravings for three-pass floor routines and single-bar releases.
Vault
Ashley Miles (Alabama)
The senior earned a 9.950 for this nearly stuck vault, which itself was almost a perfect carbon copy of her title-winning effort in event finals.
Emily Parsons (Nebraska)
After a stellar freshman campaign, the sophomore led the Cornhuskers to a second consecutive Super Six. This hugely dynamic vault scored 9.950, matching Miles’ effort.
Kristina Baskett (Utah)
Long before code changes made it a go-to choice, Baskett showed off a Yurchenko one and a half that was clean, dynamic, and also earned a score of 9.950.
Tiffany Tolnay (Georgia)
Although Kupets’ 9.975 just before had already clinched the title for Georgia, Tolnay put an exclamation mark on the day with a nearly stuck Yurchenko one and a half.
Bars
Katie Heenan (Georgia)
The sophomore – and 2001 world bronze medalist on this event – showcased pristine handstands, fluid swing, and a stuck landing for a 9.925.
Courtney Kupets (Georgia)
The reigning Olympic bronze medalist showed her signature sky-high Tkatchev, as well as crisp handstands and effortless swing, although she had a large landing error in this round of competition.
Mari Bayer (Alabama)
The senior matched her career high of 9.850 with this routine highlighted by pristine toepoint and a stuck landing.
Melanie Banville (Alabama)
Alabama’s bars squad was so strong; Banville, the reigning SEC champion on the event, was only fourth up in the Crimson Tide’s lineup. She earned a 9.875 for this clean and precise routine.
Beam
Ashley Postell (Utah)
Postell showed off her world champion chops on this event with memorable skill selection, including a switch leap to Rulfova combination and an emphatic stuck landing. Her score of 9.950 helped Utah post the top team score of the day on beam.
Tiffany Tolnay (Georgia)
The freshman was under pressure as she went up after a fall from Kelsey Ericksen and a shaky effort from Audrey Bowers. She showed grit with this strong showing that scored 9.850.
Courtney Kupets (Georgia)
Kupets wowed on this event, where she retained much of her elite difficulty, including a stuck double back dismount from two back handsprings.
Brittany Magee (Alabama)
This routine stood out for its difficulty and unusual skill selection. Magee earned a 9.850 for it, cementing her as an indispensable freshman alongside her fellow newcomer and club teammate Tolnay.
Floor
Ashley Miles (Alabama)
The decorated senior basked in the spotlight during this playful routine that included her signature seat drop and scored 9.950.
Ashley Kupets (Georgia)
The elder Kupets sister engaged the crowd in her performance and tumbled a sky-high double back and double pike.
Emily Parsons (Nebraska)
The sophomore’s routine rivaled Miles for variety and difficulty – she tumbled a double layout, a combination pass including a flyspring, and closed with a front double full.
Courtney Kupets (Georgia)
Her 2004 Olympic floor routine inspired strong opinions, and this one had similarly quirky choreography that Kupets performed confidently.
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Article by Diana Scroggins
