It should help the chances of other top mid-Michigan area gymnastics teams to qualify for the state finals that defending champion Grand Ledge has been placed in Saturday's regional at Rockford.

Regionals start at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

CAAC runner-up Haslett/Williamston/Bath has reached state finals as a team recently. Perhaps the host team and an additional one or even two from the area can now advance without the presence of powerhouse Grand Ledge, which has won 73 straight meets and eight of the last 10 CAAC titles.

The top three finishers in each of four regionals advance to the March 9-10 state finals at Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills. At state finals, team competition starts at 2 p.m. next Friday and individual competition next Saturday at noon for Division 2 gymnasts and 3:30 p.m. for Division 1 gymnasts.

Teams have to achieve a score of 120 three times to qualify for regionals. Athletes not on a qualifying team have to reach qualifying standards in a certain event at four meets to qualify for regionals as individuals.
Divisions are not based on size of schools, because all gymnastics teams compete in one class. Divisions are to classify individual athletes. Division 1 gymnasts have competed in level 8 and above in (non-scholastic and many times even pre-high school) club gymnastics. Division 2 gymnasts have achieved level 7 and below.

GIRLS GYMNASTICS: REGIONALS
ROCKFORD REGIONAL--Coldwater, East Kentwood, Escanaba, Grand Ledge, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern/Central/Eastern, Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills/Grandville, Lowell, Marquette, Marshall, Negaunee/Ishpeming, Rockford/Sparta, Sturgis
HASLETT REGIONAL--Brighton, East Lansing, Fowlerville, Freeland/Saginaw Swan Valley, Hartland, Haslett/Williamston/Bath, Holt, Howell, Jackson/Grass Lake, Jackson Lumen Christi, Jackson Northwest, Mason, Parma Jackson County Western, Pinckney, St. Johns