The following is a press release courtesy of Iowa State athletics.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Iowa State junior gymnast Michelle Shealy tied for fifth at Sunday’s balance beam event finals at the NCAA Championships in Pauley Pavilion. Shealy scored 9.8375 on the apparatus and earned the highest finish on beam at the NCAA Championships in Iowa State history.
Florida’s Bridget Sloan won the beam competition with a 9.900 score.
Shealy earned All-America First Team status by advancing to Sunday’s individual event finals. The Snellville, Ga., native is Iowa State’s first All-America First Team member since three gymnasts attained the honor in 2006.
“(Shealy’s) performance is not only historic but it has a lot of meaning to me,” Iowa State head coach Jay Ronanye said. “It shows that our program is heading in the right direction, and I could not be more proud of Michelle.”
Shealy’s 9.8375 score was the highest mark produced by a Cyclone on beam at the event finals in program history.
“I did what I always do on my beam routines,” Shealy said. “Once I hit my routine I was really excited because I knew I did well. I didn’t know I was fifth until I got to the podium but once I learned I was fifth I was ecstatic. I am already excited about next season, and I can’t wait to have the whole team qualify to nationals.”
