Temple University Athletics
NYIKA WHITE PLACES 10TH ON STILL RINGS AT NCAA MEN'S GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
4.9.05 | Men's Gymnastics
WEST POINT, NY -- Temple senior Nyika White suffered a miss during his still rings routine and finished tenth in the event with a 9.175 score Saturday evening at the 2005 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships at Christl Arena. White, at two-time All-American, finished second on rings at last year's Championships and third as a sophomore in 2003.
White entered the Championships as the top-ranked collegiate gymnast on rings with a 9.775 qualifying average. During Thursday afternoon's qualifying round, White posted a 9.725 score, the top event score of the session to advance. Then, during the team and all-around portion on Friday evening, the Williamston, N.C. native turned-in a 9.850, the top total of the night on the apparatus to move on to Saturday evening's event finals.
White entered NCAA Championships on the heels of winning the 2005 ECAC-EIGL rings title with a 9.80 performance on March 26. The title marked his second conference rings crown after taking the title as a sophomore in 2003. He placed second in 2004. En route to his 2005 victory, he posted a career-high 9.90 in the preliminary round on March 25.
White, who was named the Owlsports.com Athlete of the Month for March, returned to his All-American form after battling through injury this season. After a third place finish against Olympic-level competition at the 2005 Winter Cup Challenge that nearly earned him a spot on the U.S. National Team, White sustained a bicep injury that sidelined him for over a month. He returned for the Owls' final home meet of the season on March 19 and promptly captured first place on rings with a 9.60 score against Navy.
