ITHACA, N.Y. -- Twelve Cornell gymnasts have qualified to compete at the 2012 USAG Collegiate National Meet on April 12-14 at the University of Bridgeport.

While the Big Red failed to qualify as a team for the first time since 2000, nearly a full team of gymnasts earned individual invitations and will have an opportunity to compete for individual USAG national event titles. The 12 gymnasts will compete in a total of 18 events.

McKenna Archer leads the way with invitations to compete in three events (vault, bars and beam), while Samantha Vander Putten (vault, floor), Tiffany Chen (vault, floor), Elise Kerner (vault, bars) and Alexis Schupp (bars, beam) all qualified to compete in two events. In addition, Ashley Maher, Melanie Standridge, Nicolette Shofner and Melanie Jorgensen will compete on bars, Maia Vernacchia will accept a spot to compete in beam and Mackenzie Sato will do her floor routine.

The Big Red have had great success at the USAG nationals over the last decade, including winning the meet in 2009 and finishing second the year before. It has four top three team finishes in the last six years. Cornell has had four USAG national champions in the last four years, and both Jorgensen (bars) and Standridge (beam) are looking to repeat their crowns from 2011.

Over the last eight years, Cornell has averaged seven USAG All-America awards a season, including taking home five awards in 2011.