Well, LetsGoDU may not know a lot about gymnastics. But we can try, especially if they win!
Women's gymnastics moves to the Big 12 this year and the schedule, announced earlier this week, looks like DU has upped their game in gymnastics. A regional power under Melissa Kutcher, DU women's gymnastics has the potential to be a national power with great coaching, local fan support, and a tough schedule.
Can DU take the next step? Frankly, the LetsGoDU audience generally does not follow gymnastics closely but we will be following DU's progress this year. One of the goals with the relaunch of LetsGoDU is to expand coverage as appropriate to draw a broader audience and DU continues to make noise in collegiate women's gymnastics.
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME |
| January 9 | West Virginia, Southern Utah | 6 p.m. |
| January 18 | at Iowa | 1 p.m. |
| January 23 | Washington | 6 p.m. |
| January 30 | at Bowling Green State | 2 p.m. |
| February 6 | Utah State | 6 p.m. |
| February 12 | at Perfect 10 Challenge | 5:45 p.m. |
| (Oklahoma, George Washington, Utah State) | ||
| February 20 | at Penn State, Alabama, Cornell | 2 p.m. |
| February 27 | Iowa, Southeast Missouri, Illinois-Chicago | 6 p.m. |
| March 4 | Minnesota, Air Force | 7 p.m. |
| March 6 | at Air Force, Minnesota | 1 p.m. |
| March 12 | at Washington, Seattle Pacific | 7 p.m. |
| March 19 | at Big 12 Championships (Frisco, Texas) | TBA |
| April 2 | at NCAA Regionals | TBA |
*All times MST
3 comments:
Gymanastics is one of those sports where DU is a strong regional power that usually ranks around #15-25 in the country each year, but typically lacks the roster depth to covert annual NCAA regional appearances to get to the NCAA final weekend (top 12). They have been to the final 12 a few times, but usually bow out as a team at regionals, and end up sending 1-2 gymnasts to the final weekend as individuals.
My own observation is that the Pioneers typically don't get as many small-build gymnasts as the very top programs do, and they must coach-up the more medium build gymnasts they do get to higher level performances just to stay close.
Melissa is a very good coach, and DU has the best private school program in the country. She's also done a nice job filling Hamilton Gym with 2,000 little girls as fans for each meet, with a few mom's and Dad's along for carpool duty. With Joy Burns being a big program supporter and Melissa filling the gym, there is little pressure on the program. The athletes get fantastic grades, play well known opponents, and have carved out a niche their target audience.
Spot on comments Anonymous #1. You gave me some insight about attendance.
I'm all for team success, but I believe we have one returning gymnast who finished second at the NCAA's. It would be special if she could win a individual championship.
Going to a gymnastics meet at DU is like sitting in a mini-van, playing radio Disney songs with 10 high-energy eight-year-olds singing along at top volume - you need to have special fortitude to make it through the evening. DU has done a nice job marketing to every aspiring gymnast in Colorado. The biggest difference between gymnastics and every other sport is that there is no animosity at all for the visiting team. The little girls cheer on every competitor as if they were also Pioneers.
It's cute, but a bit weird when you are used to other sports atmospheres....
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