Emma Slevin competed for Minnesota Golden Gophers in the NCAA National Final Four last Saturday, April 18.
Ranked number 13 after the NCAA regular season, the Gophers upset the number four seed UCLA and number nine ranked Arkansas in the semi-finals. In doing so, they reached the finals and competed against the reigning champion and number one ranked Oklahoma, number two seed LSU and number three ranked Florida.
Slevin competed on uneven bars, scoring a 9.88 out of 10. She concluded her first season in NCAA with a 9.85 out of 10 on vault. The Golden Gophers defied the odds to close their season in fourth place nationally, the highest finish in the Minnesota gymnastics programme history, and only 0.3125 from a bronze medal.
It was the first time in Golden Gophers' history that they made the Final Four. Slevin joined the Minnesota-based outfit this season and has been a revelation for them.
The Gymnastics Ireland star has competed on uneven bars in every meet this season, bringing precious points to the team. She has not scored below 9.85 out of 10 since January 31. On March 21, she became Big Ten Conference Uneven Bars Champion with a score of 9.95 out of 10.
Slevin has also competed on vault throughout the season and recently debuted on the balance beam at the Corvallis Regional Championships. She scored 9.875 out of 10 in a positive contributing to her team's second place and qualification to National Semi-Finals (Elite 8 ) in Fort Worth, Texas.
Minnesota Gymnastics Head Coach Jenny Hansen said that Slevin has been "integral" to the team's successes this season.
"She seamlessly fit into our culture the moment she stepped on campus and has adapted incredibly well to NCAA gymnastics. We are so grateful she chose this path and the University of Minnesota."
