Dana McQuillin goes to Nationals

McQuillin Goes To AuburnJunior Dana McQuillin makes University of Arkansas gymnastics history this week becoming the first-ever Gym’Back to earn a trip to the NCAA Championship Meet. McQuillin, from West Orange, N.J., qualified for the meet April 9, at the 2005 NCAA Northeast Regional Meet in Durham, N.H.About ArkansasThe University of Arkansas finished the regular season ranked 15th in the country. The Gym’Backs finished fourth at the Northeast Regional April 9, ending their season.More About DanaSteady Eddie junior Dana McQuillin has been Arkansas’ go-to gymnast for three seasons. McQuillin has been Arkansas’ top all-arounder in all but two meets when she did not perform on vault. She has a season-best 39.100 scored against No. 4 Florida in a meet that also saw her record season-bests on beam with a 9.850 and floor with a 9.80. McQuillin’s top vault score of the season is a 9.775 against No. 6 Georgia and she had her best bars score of 9.775 came at No. 12 Denver in the mid-season. Continuing to peak at the right time, McQuillin posted her season-best floor score at the SEC Championship.Dana in the polls Dana is ranked on each individual event and as an all-arounder in the national numbers. McQuillin ranks 219th overall on the vault with an RQS (regional qualifying score) of 9.7. She is averaging 9.548 with a high of 9.750 this year. On bars, McQuillin ranks 148th overall with an RQS of 9.750. She has a 9.710 average on bars and a season-best of 9.775 this year. McQuillin is 138th on beam this year with an RQS of 9.760. She is averaging 9.648 an dhas a season-best 9.850. On floor, McQuillin ranks 217th overall. She has a 9.775 RQS, a 9.646 average and a 9.80 as a season-best. Despite individual numbers that might seem high, McQuillin ranks 61st overall as an all-arounder. The West Orange, N.J., native has an all-around RQS of 38,900 with a 38.705 average. Her season-best is 39.100 set against fourth-ranked Florida in Barnhill Arena this year.About the NCAA ChampionshipDana McQuillin finds herself in Session 1 of the NCAA Championship. She is the individual “paired” with Utah moving with the Utes through each rotation. Utah will compete in the tradional team format and McQuillin follows as an individual before they all rotation. McQuillin begins her NCAA Championship on the bars, rotating next to the beam. She and the Utes have a bye before the floor, then move to the vault. McQuillin finishes with a bye.Moving OnMcQuillin needs to finish in the top four on any single event or as an all-arounder to move on to the finals Saturday.