Huskers Set to Compete at Big 12 Championships

Lincoln -- The 11th-ranked Nebraska women’s gymnastics team (9-2-1) will travel to Des Moines, Iowa, to compete at the Big 12 Championships, Saturday, March 20, at 7 p.m. at the Knapp Center. The Huskers have captured the Big 12 Championship title the last three years (2001, 2002, 2003). The last time the Huskers suffered a defeat was at the 2000 Big 12 Championships hosted by Iowa State, where the Cyclones defeated NU by a small margin, 196.775-196.750.

For ticket information, please call the Iowa State Athletic Office at (888) 478-2925 or (515) 294-1816. General admission tickets are $7 (adults) and $5 (Youth/Senior General Admission).

Nebraska is coming off its first tie since 1979 after tying No. 7 Iowa State, March 14, in the Huskers’ regular season finale at the Bob Devaney Center.

The Huskers had one of the best meets of the season, posting scores above 49.0 on all four events, including the vault (49.475), the uneven bars (49.45), the balance beam (49.55) and the floor exercise (49.525). NU scored a season-best 49.55 on the balance beam, which ranks third on the Devaney charts and ties for fourth on NU’s all-time charts.

Senior Tami Harris led the Huskers, scoring a career-high 39.75 and winning the all-around title. Harris tied for second on the vault (9.95) and floor exercise (9.925). She also took first place on the uneven bars (9.925) and tied for first on the balance beam (9.95). Senior Libby Landgraf finished in fourth place with career-high 39.65 in the all-around competition. She tied for second on the vault (9.95) and the uneven bars (9.90). In addition, freshman Kristi Esposito tied for fifth place in the all-around with a career-high 39.60. Esposito tied for second place on the uneven bars (9.90), tied for third place on the balance beam (9.925) and tied for second place on the floor exercise (9.925).

Nebraska Notes
*- NU scored a season-best 49.55 on the balance beam against Iowa State on March 14, which ranks third on the Devaney charts and ties for fourth on NU’s all-time charts.
*- Senior Tami Harris led the Huskers, scoring a career-high 39.75 and winning the all-around title. Harris tied for second on the vault (9.95), took first place on the uneven bars (9.925), tied for first place on the balance beam with a career-high 9.95 and tied for second place on the floor exercise (9.925) against Iowa State, March 14.
*- Against Iowa State, March 14, seven gymnasts set nine career-highs, including senior Tami Harris (all-around, beam), senior Libby Landgraf (all-around, vault), freshman Kristi Esposito (all-around), freshman Michele Zabawa (beam), freshman Stephanie Carter (vault), senior Gina Bruce (bars), and junior Jamie Saas (floor exercise).
*- Nebraska has moved up in the rankings, moving up from No. 13 to No. 11 the week of March 15.
*- Freshman Kristi Esposito is currently ranked 24th (39.420) nationally in the all-around, while senior Libby Landgraf is ranked 26th (39.405).
*- Freshman Michele Zabawa set a new career-high 9.90 on the vault against Minnesota, March 6.
*- Senior Tami Harris won her first all-around title of 2004 at the Masters Classic, Feb. 29, with a 39.550. She also captured first place on the vault (9.925), tied for first place on the balance beam (9.925) and tied for first place on the floor exercise (9.875).
*- Freshman Kristi Esposito set a new career-high on the balance beam (9.925) to finish in second place at Denver, Feb. 21. 
*- Senior Libby Landgraf finished in third place in the all-around with a 39.40 at Denver, taking first on vault (9.90) and second on uneven bars (9.875).
*- Freshman Kristi Esposito finished in the top five in three events at Oklahoma Feb. 6., tying for first on uneven bars (9.90) and tying for third on the balance beam (9.875) and floor exercise (9.90).
*- Senior Gina Bruce became the sixth Husker in school history to score a perfect 10.0 on the vault against Missouri, Jan. 31. She was the first Husker to score a perfect 10.0 on any apparatus this season for the Huskers.
*- NU secured a team total of 49.60 on the vault against Missouri, which marks the third-highest score in school history.
*- Nebraska earned its highest opening-meet score in school history (196.550) against Michigan, Jan. 11, topping the previous record of 196.450 against Georgia in 2003.
*- Freshman Kristi Esposito scored a 9.925 in her debut against Michigan, and then matched the mark against Missouri on the floor exercise to tie the freshman record in the event.

Scouting the Cyclones
Head Coach - K.J. Kindler  - 2004 Overall Record - 8-1-1
Nebraska leads the all-time series against Iowa State, 73-9-1. The last Husker win against the Cyclones came in 2003 when NU defeated Iowa State, 197.500-195.700 at the Big 12 Championships, March 29. The last time the Cycloness defeated NU was Jan. 31, 2004 at Iowa State. The Huskers lost 196.925-196.275.

Iowa State is guided by K.J. Kindler, who is in her fourth year with the Cyclones and owns a 45-31-1 record at Iowa State. During the 2003 season, the Cyclones finished fourth in the Big 12 Conference and finished third at the NCAA Regionals. Most recently, the Huskers tied the Cyclones (198.00-198.00) last weekend in the regular-season finale.

The Iowa State women’s gymnastics team is ranked seventh in the NACGC Poll with an RQS of 197.210. The Cyclones are led by sophomore all-arounders Erin Dethloff and Laura-Kay Powell, and freshman Janet Anson.

Scouting the Tigers
Head Coach - Rob Drass - 2004 Overall Record - 15-3
Nebraska leads the all-time series against Missouri, 52-5. The last Husker win against the Tigers came this season when NU defeated Missouri, 197.750-195.650, at the Devaney Center, Jan. 31. The last time the Tigers defeated NU was Feb. 1, 1992, at Missouri. The Huskers lost 188.250-190.350.

Missouri is guided by Rob Drass, who is in his fifth year with the Tigers and owns a 48-44 record at Missouri. During the 2003 season, the Tigers finished third in the Big 12 Conference and finished fifth at the NCAA Regionals.

The Missouri gymnastics team is ranked 14th in the NACGC Poll with an RQS of 196.775. The Tigers are led by senior Andrea Nervig, junior Alisha Robinson and sophomore Laura Schwartzmann. MU owns an all-time school record 197.475 team total this season at the Texas Women’s Invitational.

Scouting the Sooners
Head Coach - Steve Nunno - 2004 Overall Record - 11-9
Nebraska leads the all-time series against Oklahoma, 51-15. The last Husker win against the Sooners was a closely fought battle in which the Huskers came out on top, 196.600-196.350 on Feb. 6 at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla. The last time the Sooners defeated NU was March 20, 1993, at the Big Eight Championships where the Huskers lost 193.300-194.45.

Oklahoma is guided by Steve Nunno, who is in his fourth year with the Cyclones and owns a 66-37 record at Oklahoma. During the 2003 season, the Sooners finished second in the Big 12 Conference and finished fourth at the NCAA Regionals.

The Oklahoma women’s gymnastics team is ranked 16th in the NACGC Poll with an RQS of 196.745. The Sooners are led by senior Kasie Tamayo, who won the all-around (39.55) for the fifth straight time this season at Penn State, March 13, and her eighth overall title this season. Tamayo owns a career-high 39.70 in the all-around competition.

Senior Gina Bruce
2004 Season: Gina Bruce returned for her final year, after earning first-team All-America honors on the vault as a freshman and junior.

This season, Bruce has been making the most of her opportunities, and it showed against Missouri, Jan. 31. She landed a perfect vault and became the sixth Husker in school history to score a perfect 10.00 on the vault and the first Husker to score a perfect 10.00 on any apparatus this season. Bruce led the team to its third-highest score (49.60) in school history. Bruce has also stepped in on the bars the last five meets, scoring a career-high 9.900 against Iowa State, March 14. She continues to help the Huskers on the floor exercise, posting eight scores of 9.800 or better. She scored a career-high 9.90 on the floor exercise against Missouri, Jan. 31 and Iowa State, March 14.

Senior Tiffany Byrd
2004 Season: Tiffany Byrd was a major contributor and steady performer for the Huskers in 2003, but injuries have limited her in 2004, Byrd has continued to lead her team in spirit. She competed in two of the Huskers’ first meets, including Michigan and Utah. Against Michigan, Byrd put up solid scores for NU, scoring a 9.850 on the bars and 9.775 on the beam. At Utah, Byrd competed again on the bars and beam, scoring a 9.150 and 9.850, respectively in each event.

Freshman Stephanie Carter
2004 Season: Stephanie Carter continues to be a steady force for the Huskers this season. Carter competes on three events for NU, including the vault, the balance beam and the floor exercise. In nine of the Huskers 10 regular-season meets, Carter has scored 9.800 or higher on the vault, including a setting a career-high of 9.925 against Iowa State, March 14.

On the balance beam, Carter consistency has carried over, as she has scored 9.80 and higher in eight of the last 10 meets. She has earned a career high of 9.875 on the balance beam set at the Masters Classic, Feb. 29. On the floor exercise, the Bryn Athyn Pa. native continues to excel for the Huskers. She has earned scores of 9.80 or higher in four of the last seven meets.

Freshman Kristi Esposito
2004 Season: Kristi Esposito continues to improve week by week. The Slidell, La., native set a new career-high 39.600 in the all-around against Iowa State, March 14, while tying for second place on the uneven bars (9.90), third place on the balance beam (9.925) and second place on the floor exercise (9.925). Esposito owns a career high of 9.925 on the balance beam.

Esposito has captured seven individual titles altogether this year. She owns three individual all-around titles, one vault title, one balance beam title and two uneven bars titles. She owns a career-high of 9.925 on the floor exercise, tying NU’s freshman record twice this year against Michigan, Jan. 11, against Missouri,Jan. 31 and against Iowa State, March 14.

She holds career highs of 9.850 on the vault, scoring 9.850 or above in five of the last seven meets. In addition, she has scored 9.850 or above in eight of the last 10 meets on the uneven bars. She owns a career-high 9.90 on the bars, earning first-place honors against Oklahoma, Feb. 6 and Ohio State, Feb. 15.

Freshman Natasha Gowda
2004 Season: Natasha Gowda has been a solid force for the Huskers on the balance beam and uneven bars this season. In addition, Gowda has contributed on the floor exercise. The Vancouver, British Columbia native has set career-highs of 9.850 on the uneven bars, 9.80 on the balance beam and 9.875 on the floor exercise. Gowda has five scores of 9.775 or higher on the uneven bars, four scores of 9.75 or higher on the balance beam.  On the floor exericse, Gowda has scored 9.825 or higher in the last five meet she has competed. She scored a career-high 9.875 against Missouri, Jan. 31 and Ohio State, Feb. 15.

Senior Tami Harris
2004 Season: Tami Harris just keeps getting better and better this season. The four-time All-American captured her first all-around title of the season with a career-high 39.75 against Iowa State, March 14. Harris tied for second on the vault (9.95), took first on the uneven bars (9.925), tied for first on the balance beam (9.95) and tied for second place on the floor exercise (9.925).

Harris has competed in the all-around five times this season, scoring above 39.0 in each of those meets She carries a season-best 9.95 on the vault, 9.925 on the bars, 9.95 on the balance beam and a 9.925 on the floor exercise. In addition, Harris has captured two vault titles, three bars titles, one floor exercise title, two balance beam title and two all-around title, combining for 10 total titles this season.

Senior Libby Landgraf
2004 Season: Libby Landgraf has continued to be a quiet, but steady force for the Huskers in 2004. Landgraf has stepped it up in the all-around competition, securing a career-high score of 39.650 against Iowa State, March 14. The four-time All-American has captured eight titles this season, including two all-around titles, one vault title, two uneven bars titles and three floor exercise titles. The Fort Collins, Colo., native also became the first collegiate woman to perform and execute a three-and-a-half twist in her floor exercise routine.

Against Iowa State, March 14, she set a career-high 9.95 on the vaul. She set another with a 9.95 on the floor exercise against Missouri, Jan. 31 and Ohio State, Feb. 15. She also scored a career-high 9.95 on the uneven bars at Minnesota, March 6.

Freshman Dani Millis
2004 Season: The least heralded of the Huskers’ incoming class, Dani Millis has been working hard this season on her vaults. The Frisco, Texas native has been working on a layout Yurchenko full. She competed for the Huskers on vault this season against Utah, Jan. 16, where she produced a 9.650 on her vault. Millis is a strong vault competitor and is making a strong bid to earn a spot in the vault lineup in postseason action. She has already added depth to the Husker lineup, but is looking to be on both floor and vault for Nebraska in the postseason. Millis entered the Husker program with 10 years of gymnastics experience.

Junior Jamie Saas
2004 Season: Jamie Saas has been solid on the balance beam for the Huskers once again this season. Saas made her season debut on the beam against Michigan, Jan. 11 and has gradually improved throughout the season, scoring 9.90 or above in three meets of the last four meets. She went on to set a career high against Big 12 rival, Missouri, Jan. 31. She scored a 9.975 on the balance beam against the Tigers, winnning her first individual title of the season

She played a decisive role in NU’s win over Denver, Feb. 21, as it came down to her and teammate Kristi Esposito on the beam to secure the win. Saas came through for the Huskers by capturing a 9.950 in the event and winning the individual title at Denver. At Minnesota, she scored a 9.925 to secure another victory for the Huskers, while capturing the individual beam title for the third time this season.

Senior Richelle Simpson
2004 Season: Richelle Simpson has been sidelined with a knee injury this season and hopes to return next season. Simpson was the 2003 NCAA All-Around Champion and Floor Exercise Champion. She was also the 2003 Big 12 Gymnast of the Year.

Freshman Kylie Tanner
2004 Season: Kylie Tanner has been sidelined with an injury to her hand after breaking her thumb this season. She has competed for the Huskers on the bars once this season against Iowa State, Jan. 23 and competed in exhibition against Minnesota, March 6. She will be looking to compete in postseason action, as Nebraska will be looking to advance to NCAA regionals.

Tanner was the last recruit to come aboard the 2004 NU squad and is originally from Brisbane, Australia. She joined the Huskers after competing in gymnastics for the past 11 years. Tanner is one of three Huskers from outside the United States, joining fellow freshman Natasha Gowda, who is from British Columbia, Canada and senior Richelle Simpson, who is from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Tanner is a former two-time member of the Australian National Team and has extensive international experience competing all over the world.

Freshman Michele Zabawa
2004 Season: The lone Nebraskan on the 2004 squad, Michele Zabawa continues to play a solid role in the Huskers’ lineup. She has consistently posted strong scores, while participating in all of the Huskers’ meets this season. She has scored above 9.80 seven times on the vault this season, scoring a career-high 9.90 against Minnesota, March 6. She also won her first vault title of the season at Minnesota, tying with teammate Tami Harris.

Zabawa has also also been a solid force for the Huskers on the uneven bars, posting five scores of 9.825 or higher. She owns a career-high 9.925 on the uneven bars, which won her the event title against Ohio State, Feb. 15. Zabawa competed in her her first all-around competition of the season at Minnesota, scoring a 38.800. She scored a 9.750 on the floor exericse and a 9.325 on the balance beam. Against Iowa State, March 14, Zabawa scored a career-high 9.925 on the balance beam.

Coaching Milestones
Head Coach Dan Kendig is Nebraska women’s gymnastics all-time winningest coach. In 11 years at Nebraska, Kendig is 258-84-3 overall and 190-31-1 in regular season meets, including 52-0-1 at home. He is in his 21st season of coaching and owns a career record of 371-196-4.

A six-time conference coach of the year, Kendig has guided the Huskers to nine conference titles and four straight regional titles in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003.

He has also led the Huskers to eight NCAA Championships appearances in the past 10 seasons, including NCAA Super Six Finals appearances in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. He was selected as the NCAA Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2003, and earned 2000 Region 3 Coach-of-the-Year honors, after guiding the Huskers to a 25-5 regular-season record and a No. 5 national ranking.

Kendig is assisted by Danna Durante, who is in her second season with Nebraska, and Adrian Burde, who is in his third season on the Husker staff.