Huskers Win Close Showdown Against Denver

Denver, Colo. ? The ninth-ranked Nebraska women’s gymnastics team defeated the University of Denver, 196.600-196.425, in a close showdown at Hamilton Gymnasium, Saturday evening.

“Overall, it was an awesome night, and I am really proud of this group,” Head Coach Dan Kendig said.  “It was close the entire meet and it came down to the last two routines on the beam.  "We competed as a team this evening and when someone made a mistake there was someone picking it up.”

The Huskers scored above 49.0 in three events, including the vault (49.30), the balance beam (49.20) and the floor exercise (49.15).  Freshman Kristi Esposito led the Huskers in the all-around, scoring a career-high 39.525 to run away with the all-around title.  Esposito finished third on vault (9.85) and second on floor exercise (9.90) and balance beam (9.925).  Esposito’s 9.925 on the balance beam was a career high for the Slidell, La., native.  Senior Libby Landgraf finished in third place in the all-around with a 39.40, taking first on vault (9.90) and second on uneven bars (9.875).

The Huskers began their first rotation on the uneven bars, as NU hit five of six routines.  Landgraf led the Huskers on the bars, scoring a 9.875 and capturing second place.  Esposito scored a 9.85 and captured third place.  In addition, senior Tami Harris scored a solid 9.80, while freshman Michele Zabawa added a 9.75 and senior Gina Bruce scored a 9.675 to the Huskers’ efforts in the event.  The Huskers trailed the Pioneers after the first rotation, 48.950-49.350.   

In the second rotation on the vault, the Huskers hit five of their six vaults, scoring a team total 49.30.  Landgraf led the Huskers, scoring a 9.90 and tying for first-place on the vault.  Harris added a 9.875 and tied for fourth place.  Harris’ score was also a season high.  Esposito and freshman Stephanie Carter added strong vaults to the Huskers’ performance, as each scored 9.85.  In addition, Zabawa scored a career-high 9.825 in the event.  At the end of the second rotation, the Huskers edged the Pioneers, 98.250-98.275.              

The Huskers entered their third rotation on the floor exercise where all six gymnasts hit their floor routines.  Esposito, who scored a 9.90 and tied for second place, led the Huskers.  Bruce and Harris and Landgraf all scored 9.85, while Carter added a 9.700.  Junior Jamie Saas also scored a 9.60 in her season debut on the floor exercise.  The Huskers took the lead at the end of the third rotation over the Pioneers, 147.400-146.975. 

The Huskers finished the evening on the balance beam, as Saas led the Huskers with a 9.95 and captured first place honors in the event.  Esposito added a career-high 9.925 to tie for second place.  Carter scored a 9.85, while Landgraf added a 9.775 and Harris scored a 9.70.  The Huskers finished on the balance beam with a team total of 49.200.     

“We are on a mission for Master’s Classic, as we have some great teams coming into compete.  Our goal this next week is to remain healthy and then next week will go well,” Kendig said. 

The Huskers will host Arizona State, Florida and Illinois at the Master’s Classic at the Bob Devaney Center, Feb. 29 at 2 p.m.

Women's Gymnastics Meet Results

Host: Denver Meet: Burnsley Invitational February 21, 2004Location: Hamilton Gymnasium Home Meet Contents: Event Results Team Results Vault Team Standing Uneven Parallel Bars Denver Balance Beam Nebraska Floor Exercise

Team Standing  (Top)

Place Team Score1 Nebraska 196.6002 Denver 196.425

Denver  (Top) Head Coach:  Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart

Gymnast VAULT BARS BEAM FLOOR AAKatie Andrews 9.700 Emily Bankhead 9.900 9.775 9.300 9.875 38.850Casey Dobyns 9.825 9.875 Meredith Fricke 9.875 9.800 9.925 Heather Huffaker 9.900 9.700 9.925 9.900 39.425Rose Kiernan 9.850 9.150 Stephanie Lorber 9.850 Ashley Shible 9.325 9.900 9.800 9.875 38.900Cassidy Willingham 9.850 9.650 9.875 Team Totals 49.350 48.925 48.700 49.450 196.425

Nebraska  (Top) Head Coach:  Dan Kendig

Gymnast VAULT BARS BEAM FLOOR AAGina Bruce 9.325 9.675 9.850 Stephanie Carter 9.850 9.850 9.700 Kristi Esposito 9.850 9.850 9.925 9.900 39.525Natasha Gowda 8.975 8.925 Tami Harris 9.875 9.800 9.700 9.850 39.225Libby Landgraf 9.900 9.875 9.775 9.850 39.400Jamie Saas 9.950 9.600 Michele Zabawa 9.825 9.750 Team Totals 49.300 48.950 49.200 49.150 196.600

Vault Results  (Top)

Place Gymnast Team Score1 Emily Bankhead Denver 9.9001 Heather Huffaker Denver 9.9001 Libby Landgraf Nebraska 9.9004 Meredith Fricke Denver 9.8754 Tami Harris Nebraska 9.8756 Cassidy Willingham Denver 9.8506 Kristi Esposito Nebraska 9.8506 Stephanie Carter Nebraska 9.8509 Casey Dobyns Denver 9.8259 Michele Zabawa Nebraska 9.82511 Katie Andrews Denver 9.72512 Danielle Millis Nebraska 9.62513 Ashley Shible Denver 9.32513 Gina Bruce Nebraska 9.325

Uneven Parallel Bars Results  (Top)

Place Gymnast Team Score1 Ashley Shible Denver 9.9002 Libby Landgraf Nebraska 9.8753 Rose Kiernan Denver 9.8503 Kristi Esposito Nebraska 9.8505 Tami Harris Nebraska 9.8006 Emily Bankhead Denver 9.7757 Michele Zabawa Nebraska 9.7508 Heather Huffaker Denver 9.7008 Katie Andrews Denver 9.70010 Gina Bruce Nebraska 9.67511 Cassidy Willingham Denver 9.65012 Stephanie Lorber Denver 9.00013 Natasha Gowda Nebraska 8.975

Balance Beam Results  (Top)

Place Gymnast Team Score1 Jamie Saas Nebraska 9.9502 Heather Huffaker Denver 9.9252 Kristi Esposito Nebraska 9.9254 Cassidy Willingham Denver 9.8755 Stephanie Carter Nebraska 9.8506 Meredith Fricke Denver 9.8006 Ashley Shible Denver 9.8008 Libby Landgraf Nebraska 9.7759 Julie Garretson Denver 9.75010 Tami Harris Nebraska 9.70011 Emily Bankhead Denver 9.30012 Michele Zabawa Nebraska 9.25013 Rose Kiernan Denver 9.15014 Natasha Gowda Nebraska 8.925

Floor Exercise Results  (Top)

Place Gymnast Team Score1 Meredith Fricke Denver 9.9252 Heather Huffaker Denver 9.9002 Kristi Esposito Nebraska 9.9004 Casey Dobyns Denver 9.8754 Ashley Shible Denver 9.8754 Emily Bankhead Denver 9.8757 Stephanie Lorber Denver 9.8507 Gina Bruce Nebraska 9.8507 Libby Landgraf Nebraska 9.8507 Tami Harris Nebraska 9.85011 Stephanie Carter Nebraska 9.70012 Tiffany Tello Denver 9.60012 Jamie Saas Nebraska 9.60014 Michele Zabawa Nebraska 9.000

All Around Results  (Top)

Place Gymnast Team Score1 Kristi Esposito Nebraska 39.5252 Heather Huffaker Denver 39.4253 Libby Landgraf Nebraska 39.4004 Tami Harris Nebraska 39.2255 Ashley Shible Denver 38.9006 Emily Bankhead Denver 38.850

PLEASE NOTE:  all scores are unofficial until verified at end of meet.
For questions regarding the meet results, please contact the host institution.

Last updated 2/21/2004 at 7:56:13PM

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