It seems like just yesterday we were gearing up for the 2013 Season and now it is time for the NCAA Championships. The second session of today's semi-finals is packed with talent and it is going to be a dogfight to advance to the Super Six.  Lets take a look at who makes it to the Super Six Finals based on the numbers. 

#6 UTAH

Season Average: 196.809 (5th)
Season High: 198.125 (2nd)

Utah arrives in California for their record thirty-eighth consecutive appearance at the NCAA Championships and ties Alabama for the most Super Six appearances with eighteen. The Utes are the only team to make the Super Six every year since 2000. Utah has been without their five-time all-american Corrie Lothrop this season following her injury but persevered and ended the regular season with a win over No. 1 Florida. Utes struggled during Conference and Regional championships but expect them to make statement in today's prelims. Utah's season average does not get them into the Super Six but the Utes have the second highest season score of the group. 

#11 ARKANSAS

Season Average: 195.898 (6th)
Season High: 197.1 (6th)

Arkansas shocked the gymnastics community when the Razorbacks tied two-time defending NCAA Champions, Alabama on February 22nd with season high 197.100.  Junior All-American Katherine Grable leads the Razorbacks this season and was a huge contributor to her teams Regional Championship program record 196.950 that booked the Razorbacks a ticket to California. 

#3 ALABAMA

Season Average: 197.116 (2nd)
Season High: 197.8 (3rd)

The Crimson Tide arrive in Los Angles after capturing their 28th Regional title in Tuscaloosa. It was Alabama's ninth consecutive regional win which earned the Crimson Tide their 31st consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships  

The two-time defending National Champions had a less than stellar start to their 2013 season

including losses to SEC rivals Georgia and Florida.  Like true champions always do, Alabama peaked at the right time defeating #2 Oklahoma in their regular season finale.

The injury to Ashley Sledge and loss of Marissa Gutierrez hurts Alabama but expect the Crimson Tide to rise to the challenge and contend for a possible third consecutive NCAA title.  




#7 MICHIGAN

Season Average: 197.033 (3rd)
Season High: 197.55 (4th)

Michigan advanced to the NCAA Championships for the nineteenth time in twenty one years  following their performance at the Morgantown Regional and have advanced to the Super Six finals ten times. The Wolverines  stunned a lot people with their number one ranking early in the season.   Michigan's last appearance at the NCAA Championships was in 2011 where the team placed sixth and Kylee Botterman won the NCAA all-around title.

 Joanna Sampson and Katie Zurales have led the 2013 team this season with Michigan gymnasts winning or sharing 37 of the 48 event titles.  If you go by the team averages than Michigan's 197.033 puts them in the Super Six behind Alabama (196.116) and Oklahoma (197.335). If you go by season high scores than Michigan does not make the Super six with their 197.55 the Wolverines would finish behind Oklahoma (198.375) Utah (198.125) and Alabama (197.8)

Michigan controls its own destiny. The Michigan team that was ranked #1 and was lights out the first half the season will make it to Super Six finals. The Wolverines have faded a bit in the post season. We will have to see which Michigan team shows up.

#6 UCLA

Season Average: 196.858 (4th)
Season High: 197.425 (5th)

The Bruins qualified for their 29th NCAA Championship following their second place finish at the Columbus Regional. The hosts of this years competition, are one of only four teams that have won the NCAA title in the 31 year history of the championships. Coach Valorie Kondos -Fields and her Bruins have earned six NCAA titles. The most recent title came in 2010 at Florida.  The Bruins were part of the dramatic finish in last years Super Six finals finishing third. It has been a rough season for the Bruins who have been hit hard with injuries. Looking at the numbers, the Bruins do not make Super Six finals with their team average or their season high score.

Miss Val called the session  a "blood bath" and she needs her Bruins to be at their absolute best to survive this session.The Bruins have an uphill battle, but I am certainly not one to ever doubt the genius of Valerie Kondos-Fields. Bruins need some help from the other teams but you can never count out the six time NCAA Champions

#2 Oklahoma 

Season Average: 197.335 (1st)
Season High: 198.375 (1st)

The Oklahoma Sooners have had an outstanding season with one of the toughest schedules in the country. The Sooners began their season with the program's  first ever win in Athens defeating No. 4 Georgia. In fact, Oklahoma arrives in California after already defeating many of their opponents including No. 4 Georgia, No.7 LSU, No. 6 UCLA, No. 11 Stanford.  defeating a number of the team of where the team flip flopped with Florida for the #1/#2 ranking. The Sooners have been consistent throughout the entire season never falling below # 3 in the rankings. It would be shocking if the Sooners do not make it to Super Six. 

Season average scores would put Oklahoma, Alabama and Michigan in the Super Six finals. According to the season high scores the top three teams would be Oklahoma, Utah and Alabama.  Expect a very exciting weekend of gymnastics!