Ohio State Sets Program Record Score, Finishes Third at NCAA Regional Final

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 16 seed Ohio State women’s gymnastics program closed its 2023 team competition season with a program record score of 197.750 at the NCAA Norman Regional Final Saturday night at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla. The Buckeyes finished the meet third, just .100 shy of second-place finisher and nine seed Kentucky and .100 ahead of No. 8 Alabama.

“Tonight was an incredible night,” Ohio State head coach Meredith Paulicivic said. “Our team competed for every tenth in an insane environment and I couldn’t be more proud. I’m so happy for everyone involved with our program and with how far we have come.”

Ohio State bests its previous program record overall score – a 197.625 vs. Denver on Feb. 18, 2012 – by .125. Ohio State earned scores of 49.400 on all four apparatuses on Saturday night, its second time this season hitting the mark. The team also tied its program record of 49.425 on uneven bars in the meet.

The 197.750 by the Buckeyes is the highest score in an NCAA regional final to not advance to the national championship in the current championship format, which was adopted in 2019.

Payton Harris tied the program record all-around score, finishing with a 39.625 in the regional final. The score tops her previous career high of 39.600 set at Thursday’s NCAA second round meet. The program record was set in 1997 by Susan Eckman.

While Ohio State’s 2023 team competition has concluded, Lexi Edwards (floor) and Harris (all-around) are projected to compete individually at the national championship meet set for April 13 in Fort Worth, Texas.

MEET NOTES

• Ohio State started the meet on floor, earning a team score of 49.475. Lexi Edwards earned her second 9.950 of the regional to lead the Buckeyes and tie for first overall. Payton Harris was second on the team with a career-high tying 9.925. Ohio State also counted 9.875s from Ella Hodges and Nicole Riccardi and a 9.850 from Tory Vetter.
• In the second rotation, the Buckeyes earned a 49.375 on vault. Harris led the way with a career high tying 9.950. Sydney Jennings added a 9.900, followed by 9.850s from Edwards and Vetter and a 9.825 from Riccardi.
• The team scored a program record tying 49.425 on bars in the third rotation. Colby Miller ended her Buckeye career with a career high tying 9.950 to tie for second overall. Riccardi was second on the team with a 9.925, her second score of at least a 9.900 on bars at the regional. Harris, Edwards and Prichard scored 9.850s for the Buckeyes to wrap up the scoring routines.
• Ending the meet on beam, Ohio State earned a 49.475 to close the night. In the anchor spot for the Buckeyes, Hodges tied for second overall with a career high 9.950. Harris and Vetter both scored 9.900s for the Buckeyes, with Harris’ tying her career high and both gymnasts recording their second 9.900 score on beam of the regional. Jennings added a 9.875, followed by a 9.825 from Pritchard.
• Overall, the Buckeyes improved their vault, bars and beam scores from Thursday’s second round meet.

SCORES
Vault: Harris – 9.950; Jennings – 9.900; Edwards – 9.850; Vetter – 9.850; Riccardi – 9.825; Malas – 9.750
Uneven Bars: Miller – 9.950; Riccardi – 9.925; Harris – 9.850; Edwards – 9.850; Pritchard – 9.850; Hankins – 9.775
Beam:  Hodges – 9.950; Harris – 9.900; Vetter – 9.900; Jennings – 9.875; Pritchard – 9.850; Hankins – 9.775
Floor: Edwards – 9.950; Harris – 9.925; Riccardi – 9.875; Hodges – 9.875; Vetter – 9.850; Gagliardi – 9.850
All-Around: Harris – 39.625

UP NEXT

Individuals who qualify for nationals will compete at one of two NCAA semifinals at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas on April 13.

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