Beavers Travel to Utah for Pac-12 Championships - Oregon State University Athletics

THE MEET
The No. 12 Oregon State (10-5) gymnastics team competes at Pac-12 Championships in Salt Lake City this Saturday at 6 p.m. PT. The Beavers enter Pac-12’s as the third seed and will compete against Utah, UCLA and Stanford in the evening session. The afternoon session consists of Arizona, California, Washington and Arizona State at 1 p.m. PT. Both sessions will air live on the Pac-12 Networks ... The Beavers will begin the meet on the balance beam, then will move to floor exercise, vault and uneven bars.

OREGON STATE QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about the Oregon State gymnastics team early in the season:

The Beavers have four captains this season - seniors Taylor Keeker, Katelyn Ohlrich and Kailie Ponto as well as junior Erika Aufiero.
Eight of OSU’s 2015 opponents were ranked in the preseason top 25: No. 5 UCLA, No. 6 Utah, No. 9 Nebraska, No. 10 Stanford, No. 14 California, No. 21 Arizona, No. 24 Washington and No. 25 Iowa State.
OSU has ‘hit’ 225 out of 240 (93.75%) routines in 2015 ... that’s a bit behind the pace of 2014 when the Beavers ‘hit’ percentage was 96.4% (264-274).
Oregon State returns 11 contributors from the 2014 team including 19 out of 24 routines from the final meet of 2014.
OSU’s roster features three gymnasts that qualified to NCAA Championships a year ago. Madeline Gardiner and Chelsea Tang reached the final weekend of the year as individual all-arounders and Kaytianna McMillan qualified on the balance beam. Gardiner finished third on the beam at Individual Event Finals earning first team All-America honors. She also earned first team honors in the all-around.
Three walk-ons - Taylor Keeker (vault & bars), Katelyn Ohlrich (beam) and Kailie Ponto (floor) - returned to the lineup in 2015 with plenty of experience in hand. Between the three, they entered the season having combined to ‘hit’ all 47 career routines ... In 2015, the trio has gone on to ‘hit’ 31 out of 34 routines ... Unfortunately, Ponto’s season was halted early after suffering a knee injury in a home quad meet Jan. 30 - she finished the routine without a fall.
Ponto’s injury has helped open the door for yet another walk-on. Junior transfer Jamie Radermacher could be in the floor lineup for just the second time this year on Saturday. Radermacher scored a career-high 9.850 at Nebraska in her competitive debut for the Beavers. She tallied a 9.900 in exhibition in last week’s quad meet.
The 2015 roster includes three transfers: Silvia Colussi-Pelaez transferred from Florida in the spring, while Risa Perez and Jamie Radermacher arrived over the summer from Arizona State and Eastern Michigan respectively ... all three could play significant roles as the Beavers head into the postseason, Colussi-Pelaez is currently in the bars and beam lineups, Perez is in the beam and floor lineups and Radermacher could compete on the floor as well.
After posting a lousy score against Utah on Feb. 27 and falling in the rankings to 15th, the Beavers have climbed back up to No. 12 in this week’s national rankings. With a season-high score, OSU can only move up as high as No. 11 heading into NCAA Regionals.
The Beavers have gone from zero to three all-arounders in the course of two weeks. Madeline Gardiner and Chelsea Tang began the season performing in the all-around. However, two weeks into the season Tang exited the vault lineup and three weeks later Gardiner came out of the bars lineup ... two weeks ago at Nebraska, with Dani Dessaints sidelined at home and following a warm-up crash by Shireen Khamedoost, Gardiner was thrust back into the bars lineup and posted a career-best 9.875 ... last week for OSU’s home quad meet, Tang re-entered the vault lineup and Kaytianna McMillan joined the vault lineup for the first time in her career giving the Beavers three all-arounders. McMillan scored an impressive 39.400 in her first all-around appearance, while Gardiner has posted career-high all-around scores of 39.450 in each of the last two weeks.

LAST YEAR AT PAC-12’S
Oregon State finished fourth in the afternoon session and fifth overall at the conference championship meet in 2014. The Beavers ‘hit’ all 24 routines but lacked enough stuck dismounts and landings to earn a medalist finish. Chelsea Tang led the Beavers finishing third in the all-around with a score of 39.325.

OSU IN THE PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Here are some quick hitters about Oregon State’s history in the Pac-12 Championships:

Oregon State is one of only four schools - along with UCLA, Stanford and Utah - to have won the Pac-10/12 Championships in the 28-year history of the event.
The Beavers are seeking their seventh conference title and third in five years.
OSU has a 0-3 record against their direct competition this year falling in the season-opener to 196.000-195.450 to UCLA Jan. 12 in Corvallis ... OSU lost 197.000-196.450 to the Cardinal at Stanford Jan. 26 and lost 196.875-195.750 to Utah in Corvallis Feb. 27.
Twenty OSU gymnasts have combined to win 42 individual titles over the course of 28 years.
Seven current Oregon State gymnasts already have a Pac-12 Championship rings to their credit. In 2013, Chelsea Tang performed in the all-around while Erika Aufiero (bars), Katelyn Ohlrich (beam) and Cerise Witherby (floor) were each in the lineup that night.

VS. UTAH
Saturday marks the 74th time Oregon State and Utah have met with the Utes holding a 64-9 lead in the series. The Beavers have never beaten the Utes in Salt Lake City in 32 tries. Of late, Utah has won the last three meetings between the two squads.

VS. UCLA
This is the 106th meeting between Oregon State and UCLA with the Bruins holding a 77-27-1 advantage. UCLA has beaten the Beavers the last three times the two have faced off. The Bruins defeated the Beavers 196.000-195.450 in both team’s season-opener at Gill Coliseum Jan. 12.

VS. STANFORD
Oregon State and Stanford meet for the 87th time in history with the Beavers holding a 57-29 advantage. The Beavers have dropped the last two meetings to the Cardinal including a 197.000-196.450 defeat Jan. 26 on The Farm.

LAST TIME ON THE FLOOR
Oregon State posted it’s second-highest score of the season (197.075) for the second week in a row Saturday in a Senior Night victory over San Jose State, Lindenwood and Seattle Pacific. The Beavers registered season-high marks on uneven bars (49.300) and floor (49.675) and Madeline Gardiner tied her career-high of 39.450 in the all-around. Risa Perez and Chelsea Tang each scored career-high 9.95’s on the floor en route to the team’s second 197+ score of the year.

TANYA CHAPLIN QUICK HITTERS

Tanya Chaplin set the Oregon State record for wins in last year’s home opener with a 196.425-194.850 victory over Iowa State. Now in her 18th season Chaplin has 342 career wins including 277 regular season victories.
Chaplin has led the Beavers to conference titles in two of the last four years, winning the 2011 Pac-10 title and the 2013 Pac-12 Championships.
She has directed OSU to the NCAA Championships 10 times in her 17 seasons at the helm.

MADELINE GARDINER QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Madeline Gardiner, a sophomore from Cambridge, Ontario:

Has ‘hit’ 36 out of 37 routines in 2015 and 73 of 74 routines in her career.
After 10 straight meets in the all-around, she did not compete on bars for three weeks ... returned to the bars lineup at Nebraska (3/7) when Shireen Khamedoost fell during warm-ups. Scored career-high 9.875 at Nebraska.
Has scored career-high 39.450 in the all-around each of last two meets.
Won the vault at Iowa State with a then-career-best 9.875 - her first career vault title ... won the vault title against Washington with a career-high tying 9.90.
Leads the team with nine event titles in 2015 - 3 on beam, 2 each on vault, floor and in the all-around.
Qualified to NCAA Championships as an individual all-arounder in 2014.
Earned All-America First Team honors on the balance beam finishing tied for third in the Individual Event Finals - the best beam finish for an OSU gymnast since Joy Selig was first in 1990.
Also earned first team All-America honors in the all-around in 2014.
Won four event titles in her rookie season - three on beam and one on floor.
Madeline was named the Pac-12 Specialist of the Week for the week of Feb. 10-16, 2014 after she posted career-bests of 9.95 on floor and 9.875 on beam to win the first event titles of her career ... named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week for the week of Mar. 3-9, 2014 after she won the beam title (9.925) and scored 39.400 in her first all-around performance.
Canadian National Team’s alternate for the 2012 Olympics in London.

CHELSEA TANG QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Chelsea Tang a senior from Eugene, Oregon:

Has ‘hit’ 30 of 33 routines in 2015 and 136 out of 142 in her career.
Set career-high with 9.925 on the bars at Stanford ... a personal-high of 9.925 on floor at California.
Tied for second on the team with six event titles in 2015 - 1 on bars, 3 beam and 2 on floor.
Scored 9.9 or better on five of her six routines during a recent two meet stretch (Utah & Nebraska).
Performed in the all-around 20 straight meets ending the streak at Stanford (1/26/15) ... re-enter all-around last week against San Jose State.
Has scored a 9.90 or better on all four events in her career ... she is one of eight gymnasts in OSU history to record a 9.90 on all four apparatus joining an exclusive list that includes Annie Campbell (2000-02, 04), Jami Lanz (2006-09), Lindsay Nelson (2001-03, 05), Chelsea Plourde (2004-05), Tanya Ricioli-Hebron (2000, 02-04), Mandi Rodriguez (2007-10) and Makayla Stambaugh (2010-13).
2014 Pac-12 All-Conference First Team in the all-around ... 2013 All-Pac-12 First Team on balance beam.
Qualified to NCAA Championships as an individual all-around qualifier for the second straight year in 2014.
Named as the Pac-12 Gymnast of the Week, for the week of Jan. 13-19, 2014, for the first time in her career after scoring 39.275 in the all-around earning individual titles on bars and in the all-around.
Recorded 10 total wins in 2014 including five in the all-around plus three on beam and two on bars.

TAYLOR KEEKER QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Taylor Keeker, a senior from Keizer, Oregon:

Has assumed a vital role for the Beavers ... despite not earning a spot in the lineup until her junior season, Keeker is now arguably the team’s best vaulter. Also leads off on uneven bars
Scored career-high 9.925 on vault at Stanford ... set career-best on bars at Arizona State with a 9.850.
Has won four event titles in 2015 - 3 on vault and 1 on bars.
Has ‘hit’ 19 out of 20 routines in 2015 and 38 of 39 in her career.

KAYTIANNA MCMILLAN QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Kaytianna McMillan, a sophomore from Coburg, Oregon:

Has ‘hit’ 23 of her 25 routines in 2015 and 42 of 45 routines in her career.
Has won three event titles in 2015 - 2 on bars and 1 on floor exercise.
Was sidelined by injury for OSU’s season opener against UCLA - returned to bars and beam lineups at Iowa State with a pair of 9.80’s.
Returned to the floor exercise against Arizona (2/7/15) for the first time since Feb. 3, 2014.
Joined the vault lineup for the first time last week against San Jose State ... Scored 39.400 in her first all-around performance last week as well.
Tied for balance beam title (9.85) at NCAA University Park Regional qualifying to NCAA Championships on the the event.
Won three event titles as a rookie - two on beam and one on bars.
Kaytianna trained at the National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics - the same gym as other OSU greats Chari Knight, Jami Lanz and current teammate Chelsea Tang among others and OSU head coach Tanya Chaplin.
Four-time Junior Olympic Nationals qualifier and won the Level 10 national titles on beam and all-around in 2013.

ERIKA AUFIERO QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Erika Aufiero, a junior from Sparks, Nevada:

Posted her career-high on vault (9.925) at California and tied personal-best on bars (9.925) against the Bears.
Has ‘hit’ 18 out of 20 routines in 2015 and is 50-55 in her career.
Tied for second on the team with six event titles in 2015 - 5 on uneven bars and 1 on vault.
Chosen as one of the team’s captains in 2015.
Was second on the team with seven individual titles in 2014, six on bars and one on vault.
Scored 9.90 or better on bars four times in 2014.
Performed in the vault and bars lineups in all 11 meets in 2014
Earned All-Pac-12 honors on uneven bars in 2013.
Erika’s sister, Breyanna, is a senior gymnast at Utah State. The sisters squared off last season in an OSU home meet.

RISA PEREZ QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Risa Perez, a junior from Las Vegas, Nevada:

Held out of the Nebraska meet due to illness.
Scored a career-best 9.90 on beam at Iowa State.
Scored career-high 9.950 on floor exercise last week against SJSU.
Has won three event titles in 2015 - 1 on beam and 2 on floor exercise.
Has ‘hit’ 17 out of 18 routines in 2015 and 69-77 in her career.
Transferred to Oregon State from Arizona State in September.
Did not vault at ASU and is now one of OSU’s top vault alternates.
Has cut and choreographed her floor routines since she was a Level 8 gymnast.

SILVIA COLUSSI-PELAEZ QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Silvia Colussi-Pelaez, a sophomore from Oakville, Ontario:

Announced she would transfer to Oregon State from Florida in May.
Struggled through a December injury ... performed on the balance beam in the season’s first five meets in 2015 scoring a high of 9.85 at Stanford.
Entered the bars lineup at California scoring 9.85.
Performed on bars and beam for first time at Nebraska.
Has ‘hit’ all 12 routines in 2015 and all 15 of the routines in her collegiate career including 3-3 for Florida in 2014.
Competed as a member of Spain’s national team.
Younger sister, Mariana, signed a National Letter of Intent to compete for the Beavers in 2016.

KATELYN OHLRICH QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Katelyn Ohlrich, a senior from Bend, Oregon:

Has ‘hit’ 8 out of 10 routines in in 2015 and is 32-34 in her career.
Performed on bars and beam in the season opener against UCLA.
Moved to the lead off spot on the beam at Iowa State (1/18) and started the rotation with a 9.80.
Chosen as one of the team’s captains in 2015.
Has been a mainstay in the beam lineup since her sophomore season - has competed on the event in every meet during that time until last week against SJSU.
Ohlrich traveled with nine other OSU student-athletes to the Dominican Republic at part of Beavers Without Borders building an irrigation system at a local school.

CERISE WITHERBY QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about Cerise Witherby, a senior from Huntington Beach, California:

Set career-high with a 9.925 on the floor last week against San Jose State.
Tied her career-high with a 9.80 on the vault at Stanford.
Has “hit” 22 of her 23 routines in 2015 and 59 of 61 in her career.
Performed on three events in the season opener, leading off on vault, beam and floor and competed on vault and floor at Iowa State and again at California.
Enjoyed a bit of a breakout season in 2014 performing on floor in 10 meets, beam nine times and vault twice setting career-bests on all three events.

MISCELLANEOUS QUICK HITTERS
Here are some quick hitters about the rest of the team:

Sophomore Megan Jimenez has performed in the vault lineup 19 times hitting all 19 routines; scored career-best 9.875 at California and again at Arizona State ... performed exhibition on beam against Washington.
Junior Nicole Turner performed in OSU’s floor lineup in every meet in 2014 and ‘15. She has ‘hit’ 21 of 24 routines in her career.
Freshman Shireen Khamedoost made her collegiate debut in the season-opener on the bars ... scored a personal-best 9.875 at Stanford ... has ‘hit’ all 7 routines in 2015.
Sophomore Taylor Ricci performed the first competition routine of her college career at Stanford scoring 9.825 on the vault ... scored personal-best 9.85 against Washington ... is also an alternate on bars and floor ... has ‘hit’ all 7 of her routines in 2015.
Freshman Dani Dessaints, who had knee surgery in December, returned to the vault lineup - her first collegiate routine - at Arizona State (2/20) ... competed on bars against Utah (2/27).
Junior transfer Jamie Radermacher performed her first competitive routine for OSU scoring 9.85 on the floor at Nebraska (3/7) ... has performed exhibitions on the floor six times with a high of 9.90.
Senior Kailie Ponto began the season in the floor lineup. She suffered a season-ending knee injury against Washington (Jan. 30).

WHICH WAY DO WE GO?
The Beavers, like every other team in the country, are striving to reach the NCAA Championships and the Super Six. But to reach that goal teams must get through NCAA Regionals. In 2015, regionals will be held at Auburn, California, Iowa State, Ohio State, Oklahoma and West Virginia. The top two finishers at each regional will advance to the NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, Texas.

CONFERENCE OF CHAMPIONS
The Pac-12 Conference had seven of its eight teams ranked in the Top 25 in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll. In addition, for the ninth week in a row the rankings have seven team ranked with Utah at the top at No. 4, UCLA is 7th, OSU is at No. 12, Stanford is 13th, Arizona is 17th, California is 20th and Washington ranks 22nd.