March 31, 2008

DeKALB, Ill. - After completing one of Northern Illinois' top gymnastics seasons in recent history with a fourth-place finish at the Mid-American Conference Championships on Saturday, the Huskies received some good news Monday when two NIU gymnasts were selected to compete at the 2008 NCAA South Central Regional in Norman, Okla.

Both freshman Holly Reichard (Palatine, Ill./Fremd HS) and junior Leah Johnson (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South HS) will compete in the all-around competition at the regionals, marking the first time that NIU will have two all-arounders in the NCAA Regionals since 1995, when the entire team made a regional appearance. In addition, junior Jennifer Naughton (Smithville, Mo./Smithville HS) was selected as an alternate on the balance beam event and will step in if another individual is unable to go.

Northern Illinois Head Coach Mark Sontag said that the selection of two all-arounders marks another step forward for the program.

"This is really exciting, to have two all-around competitors at the regionals," Sontag said. "Those two have lit it up all year long. Leah has been to the regionals before and knows what to expect and she will be able to help Holly. It's a nice combination for those two to go and experience it together."

Johnson will make her second straight trip to the South Central Regional in the all-around while Reichard, who was named to the first team All Mid-American Conference squad on Saturday, makes her NCAA debut. Naughton was selected as an alternate for the second straight year.

Five all-around competitors, as well as one individual event specialist, are chosen from each region among teams who do not qualify for the regional.

Sontag said both Johnson and Reichard truly are "all-arounders."

"For the most part, they both have four strong events and that's the key to being a great all-arounder," Sontag said. "Most all-arounders have one or two events that are weaker, but Leah and Holly are equally strong on every event. Leah has never looked better and Holly is just on top of her game, period. We'll give them a couple days rest here and then hit the gym real hard this week."

A year ago, Johnson placed 14th in the all-around at the South Central Regional with a score of 38.500. She has recorded her career-high all-around scores this year with a team-high 39.125 at the State of Illinois Classic.

Reichard placed third in the all-around at the MAC Championships and also tied for the title on the uneven parallel bars at that competition. Her scores include a 39.075 and a 39.050, as well as two 38.975 marks.

Sontag said the selection of Reichard and Johnson to compete at NCAA Regionals ends the season on a positive note.

"This is a nice end to the season," Sontag said. "Especially coming today, when we're still smarting over our finish at MACs, this is a good pick me up for us and the best part is that, both of these gymnasts will be back next year."

The NCAA South Central Regional will be held Saturday, April 12 beginning at 6 p.m. (Central) in Norman. The top two all-arounders at the regional who are not members of one of the two advancing teams will receive an invitation to the NCAA Championships, scheduled for April 24-26 in Athens, Ga.

-- NIU --