GAINESVILLE, Fla. - April 22 - Elise Wheeler's bid to return to the NCAA Individual Championships came to an end of Thursday night as the senior finished 12th in the all-around in the second session of the NCAA National Championships. Wheeler finished the night with a 39.150 in the all-around, finishing ahead of all-arounders from Missouri, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina State, Minnesota, Michigan, Denver and Stanford.
Wheeler rotated with the University of Arkansas, a team that finished fifth during the second session with the group starting the night on the uneven bars. The San Diego native scored her highest mark of the night with a 9.825 on the apparatus to finish tied for 15th overall.
She then moved with the Razorbacks to beam, scoring a 9.775 to finish tied for 21st overall. Her score would have been beneficial for U of A as three of its gymnasts scored lower than a 9.300 on the event.
Moving to the third rotation, Wheeler scored her second-best mark of the competition with a 9.800 on floor, finishing tied for 21st. Her night was capped with a bittersweet 9.750 on vault, her lowest score of the night, leading her to a 40th-place finish on the event.
The performance marks the end of a successful career at Southern Utah that included three All-American citations, two NCAA North Central Gymnast of the Year, two WAC Gymnast of the Year and 2007 WAC Freshman of the Year honors.