Junior Duo Advances to NCAA Gymnastics Championships
4/3/2023 3:30:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
INDIANAPOLIS – Boise State juniors Courtney Blackson and Emily Lopez have advanced to compete in the 2023 National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships, the NCAA announced Monday afternoon.
Blackson qualified as an event specialist on vault following her perfect performance during the second round of the 2023 NCAA Regional Championships. It marked the first 10.000 by a Bronco at a regional competition in program history, the fourth perfect score on vault in Boise State history and the sixth mark of perfection all-time for the Blue and Orange.
Lopez, who earned the first 10.000 on bars in program history against BYU (Feb. 17), secured her spot at the national championships as an event specialist, scoring a 9.950 on bars during Thursday's regional competition. It was the highest score in program history by a Bronco at a regional meet and the best mark at regionals since Kelsey Morris' 9.950 in 2014.
Blackson and Lopez are the first Bronco gymnasts to advance to the national championships since all-arounder Shani Remme in 2018, and it is the first time Boise State has had multiple individual qualifiers since 2014 (Morris, bars and Ciera Perkins, floor).
The women's gymnastics championships consists of eight teams, as well as four all-around competitors and 16 event specialists who were not members of a qualifying team. The top two teams from each of the four regionals have advanced to the national championships. In addition, the top all-around competitor and the top finisher on each event from each regional have also advanced to the national championships.
The championships, hosted by Texas Woman's University and Knight Eady, will be held at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, April 13-15. Blackson and Lopez are slated to compete in the first semifinal at 1 p.m. MT
Blackson qualified as an event specialist on vault following her perfect performance during the second round of the 2023 NCAA Regional Championships. It marked the first 10.000 by a Bronco at a regional competition in program history, the fourth perfect score on vault in Boise State history and the sixth mark of perfection all-time for the Blue and Orange.
Lopez, who earned the first 10.000 on bars in program history against BYU (Feb. 17), secured her spot at the national championships as an event specialist, scoring a 9.950 on bars during Thursday's regional competition. It was the highest score in program history by a Bronco at a regional meet and the best mark at regionals since Kelsey Morris' 9.950 in 2014.
Blackson and Lopez are the first Bronco gymnasts to advance to the national championships since all-arounder Shani Remme in 2018, and it is the first time Boise State has had multiple individual qualifiers since 2014 (Morris, bars and Ciera Perkins, floor).
The women's gymnastics championships consists of eight teams, as well as four all-around competitors and 16 event specialists who were not members of a qualifying team. The top two teams from each of the four regionals have advanced to the national championships. In addition, the top all-around competitor and the top finisher on each event from each regional have also advanced to the national championships.
The championships, hosted by Texas Woman's University and Knight Eady, will be held at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, April 13-15. Blackson and Lopez are slated to compete in the first semifinal at 1 p.m. MT
Players Mentioned
Vault, Bars, Floor
/ Women's Gymnastics
Vault, Bars, Beam
/ Women's GymnasticsGYM | Senior Video
Friday, March 14
WBB | Highlights vs Nevada
Monday, March 10
GYM | Boise State Gymnastics Vlog
Tuesday, January 28
GYM: Team Retreat
Monday, September 09
