Utah State's Richards Named NACGC Co-Regional Coach of the Year

Utah State University gymnastics head coach Jeff Richards was named the NCAA Division I National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches (NACGC) North Central Region Co-Coach of the Year, in a vote by the region’s head coaches at the NCAA Division I Gymnastics North Central Regional.  Richards shares the award with Utah co-head coach Megan Marsden.

Richards led five Aggie individuals to the NCAA North Central Regional Championships April 2 in Denver, Colo. Senior Jackie Dillon was eighth in the all-around with a score of 38.450 to lead the Aggies on the night. The eighth-place finish was the highest of the night for Utah State. Freshman Rachel Vaske was 12th in the all-around with a score of 38.025. Senior Lyndsie Boone capped off an amazing Utah State career, finishing 14th in the all-around with a score of 37.950.

Junior Nicole Simoneau was tied for 14th on bars with a 9.800 which was not only the highest score of the night for any Aggie gymnast, but was also the ninth time this season that she has recorded a score of 9.800 or higher. Simoneau was also tied for 27th on beam with a 9.625.

Freshman Paige Jones was 39th on floor with a 9.425 and was 40th on vault with a 9.550.

This was Boone’s fourth regional trip after qualifying on beam as a freshman in 2008 and in the all-around the last two seasons. It was Dillon’s third regional trip, but first in the all-around after making it on bars last year and on vault in 2009. It was Simoneau’s second trip on bars, qualifying in 2009 and first on beam. Freshmen Jones and Vaske made their first NCAA appearances.

The NCAA Gymnastics Championships are set for April 15-17 in Cleveland, Ohio. The championships, hosted by Kent State University and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, will be held at the Wolstein Center.

Teams qualifying into the 2011 NCAA Championships in order of national qualifying score are: Alabama, UCLA, Oklahoma, Oregon State, Florida, Michigan, Georgia, Utah, Nebraska, Arkansas, Illinois and Kent State.

Team semifinal and all-around competition will be conducted in two sessions Friday, April 15, at noon and 6 p.m. EDT. The top three teams from each semifinal will advance to the Super Six competition Saturday, April 16, at 4 p.m. EDT. The top four individuals from each session in each event (plus ties) from the preliminary team and all-around competition will compete in the individual-event competition Sunday, April 17, at 1 p.m. EDT.

For more information regarding the National Collegiate Women’s Gymnastics Championships, log on to www.NCAA.com.

Fans can also get meet updates as well as follow the Aggie gymnastics program on Twitter or on Facebook. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter or on facebook at Utah State University Athletics.

NACGC North Central Region Award Winners

Regional Co-Head Coach of the Year: Megan Marsden, University of Utah / Jeff Richards, Utah State University

Regional Assistant Coach of the Year: Linas Gaveika and Caleb Phillips, University of Iowa

Regional Gymnast of the Year: Rebecca Simbhudas, University of Iowa

Regional Administrator of the Year: Liz Abel, University of Utah

Additional Aggie sports news is available at the Athletics website.

Contact: Zach Fisher, (435) 797-2066