April 21, 2013
LOS ANGELES- Stanford women’s gymnast Nicole Dayton concluded her collegiate career Sunday as she finished tied for 14th on vault at the NCAA Individual Event Finals at UCLA.
Dayton was the lone Cardinal representative on the final day of NCAA competition and delivered a 9.8583 to finish tied for 14th out of 23 competitors.
The senior co-captain concluded a season that included seven scores of 9.900 or higher and four individual victories – doubling her win total from 2012.
Dayton earned her first career All-America honor on Friday when she was named to the first team after finishing tied for third on vault with a 9.900.
Dayton joins a group of 29 Stanford gymnasts that have earned 96 All-America honors.
Sunday’s meet officially concluded Stanford’s 2013 season. Despite not making the Super Six, the team had a number of accomplishments and the future looks bright with 13 of 15 gymnasts returning in 2014.
The Cardinal competed in its sixth NCAA Championships in seven years and 13th overall, and finished the season with a 15-7 record (19-13 overall).
Stanford saw glimpses of the potential of its 10 underclassmen throughout the season and again at the NCAA Championships.
Freshman Taylor Rice competed in three events at the NCAA Championships and earned second-team All-America honors on floor with a 9.875 to tie her career best and finish tied for seventh. Rice also tallied scores of 9.800 on vault and a career-best 9.850 on beam.
Sophomore Alex Archer earned a career-best 9.875 on bars, while freshman Melissa Chuang returned from injury and competed for the first time since Feb. 2 to deliver a 9.800 on vault.
Along with a wealth of youthful talent returning in 2014, the Cardinal will welcome back experienced juniors Amanda Spinner and Shona Morgan.