Competing alongside the nation's best collegiate gymnasts at the NCAA Championship in Salt Lake City last weekend, UW senior Chelsea Bakken set a precedent for what coach Joanne Bowers said she hopes will become a Husky gymnastics tradition.

Bakken, who qualified to the championship as an individual, is the only Husky gymnast to have competed at the NCAA Championship since 2004. The lone Washington entrant, Bakken gave a solid performance, placing 26th in the all-around.

"[The championship is] so fast-paced, so intimidating, because everyone there is so wonderful," Bowers said. On the first day of competition, individuals compete alongside teams in two pressure-filled qualification sessions. Individuals compete in the all-around competition or on their specialty, vying for a chance to perform again during the individual event finals on the third night.

"Chelsea's never been to a nationals," Bowers said, "but this young lady still managed to hit all four of her events in a beautiful fashion and just had a ball."

Although Bakken did not qualify to any event finals, she finished her career with some of the highest scores she's ever posted. Bakken earned a 9.725 on vault, a 9.775 on bars, a 9.725 on beam and a 9.75 on floor to earn a 38.975 total, the third-highest of her career.

Furthermore, Bowers said Bakken's performance has solidified interest in the Husky program, which Bowers hopes to capitalize on to bring new recruits to Washington. Being a part of the championship also made the UW coaching staff "hungry" to take Washington all the way to the NCAA's, Bowers said.

In the team competition, Georgia successfully defended its team title against home court favorite Utah and challenger Florida, which was ranked No. 1 throughout the season.

The deeply talented Georgia Gym Dawgs accomplished this feat without two of their impact seniors, who succumbed to injury before the championship.

Georgia sophomore Courtney Kupets, a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic team, won the all-around title for the second year in a row as well.

Reach reporter Blythe Lawrence at sports@thedaily.washington.edu.