2004 Season Review

The <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska women’s gymnastics team accomplished one of its biggest goals in 2004, advancing to the NCAA Championships for the sixth consecutive year. Despite losing 2003 NCAA All-Around champion Richelle Simpson and uneven bars and balance beam specialist Tiffany Byrd to injuries, NU captured second place in the Southeast regional while finishing in 10th place at the NCAA Championships.  In addition, four Huskers captured a total of six All-America honors.  <?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Senior Libby Landgraf, a six-time All-American, earned first-team All-America honors on the uneven bars for the first time in her collegiate career at the 2004 NCAA Championships while adding second-team All-America honors on the vault (9.875). Additionally, the Fort Collins, Colo. native was honored as a first-team academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Landgraf was also honored by the Booster Club at the end of the season with the John Hawkinson Award, an honor given to a gymnast who exemplifies three criteria: academic ability, athletic accomplishments and leadership.

 

Freshman Kristi Esposito competed in the all-around in almost every meet for the Huskers in 2004. The Slidell, La., native earned first-team All-America honors on the balance beam and in the all-around while capturing third place on the balance beam at the 2004 NCAA Event Finals. In addition, Esposito was the 2004 Big 12 Conference champion on bars.

 

The Huskers had one of the best opening-night scores in school history when they defeated Michigan 196.55-195.075 on Jan. 11. The Huskers scored higher than 49.00 in three events against Michigan to extend their home winning streak to 50 meets. 

 

In the first away meet of the season, NU suffered its first loss, as the team was defeated by Utah, 196.90-194.325. The Huskers put up a hard-fought battle throughout the meet, but it was not enough to keep the Utes from capturing the win. Landgraf led the Huskers in the all-around with a 39.35 to finish second. She secured top-five finishes on all four events, including a tie for third on balance beam (9.85), while tying for fourth on both vault (9.80) and uneven bars (9.85). Esposito also had a breakout performance at Utah in the all-around competition, capturing third place with a score a 39.275. She took home third place on the floor exercise (9.90) and tied for fourth place on the uneven bars (9.85). Other top performers for NU included freshman Stephanie Carter, who tied for third place on balance beam (9.85) and fourth on vault (9.80), and Byrd, who tied Landgraf for third on balance beam (9.85).

 

The Huskers put the loss behind them and moved forward to compete against IowaState in Ames, Iowa.  NU lost its first Big 12 meet of the season, as the Cyclones defeated the Huskers 196.925-196.27. Nebraska scored above 49.0 in three events: the vault (49.225), the balance beam (49.10), and the floor exercise (49.075), but it was not enough to rally past the Cyclones.

 

The Huskers quickly bounced back with a win over Big 12 rival Missouri on Jan. 31 at home.  The Huskers had a meet full of season bests and career highs, as NU captured its 51st straight regular-season victory at home and its 50th win under Head Coach Dan Kendig. Eight Huskers combined to earn 15 season- high scores, while six Huskers had seven career-high scores. 

 

Senior Gina Bruce became the sixth Husker in school history to score a perfect 10.0 on the vault and the only Husker to score a perfect 10.0 on any apparatus during the 2004 season. NU secured a team total of 49.60 on the vault, which marked as the third-highest score in school history.  The Huskers scored above 49.0 in all four events, while Esposito and Landgraf tied for first place in the all-around (39.425).

 

Nebraska then traveled to Oklahoma on Feb. 3 and defeated the Sooners 196.60-196.35 in a close Big 12 battle.  The Huskers were led by seniors Tami Harris and Landgraf, who finished second (39.35) and third (39.275), respectively, in the all-around. Harris tied for first place on the uneven bars (9.90), while Landgraf captured third place on the vault (9.825), and tied for fifth on the uneven bars (9.85).

 

Esposito finished in the top five in three events, tying for first on uneven bars (9.90) and tied for third on the balance beam (9.875) and floor exercise (9.90). The Huskers scored above 49.0 in three events, uneven bars (49.325), balance beam (49.225) and floor exercise (49.250).

 

NU then came back to the DevaneyCenter to host OhioState on Feb. 15 in a double dual with the NU men’s team.  The Huskers overpowered OhioState 197.10-193.825, winning their third dual in a row.  Nebraska scored above 49.0 in all four events, vault (49.30), uneven bars (49.45), balance beam (49.175) and floor exercise (49.175), setting a season high on uneven bars.  Landgraf led the Huskers in the all-around with a career-high 39.575. She tied for second place on the vault (9.90), third place on the uneven bars (9.90) and captured first place on the floor exercise (9.95). 

 

The Huskers continued to roll through the regular season and traveled to Denver to compete Feb. 21.  In a close showdown in Denver, the Huskers narrowly defeated the Pioneers 196.60-196.425.  It came down to the Huskers' last routine on the balance beam to win the meet, as junior Jamie Saas, a mainstay in the beam lineup, secured a 9.95.  NU improved to 5-1 on the season.

At the annual Master's Classic on Feb. 29, NU extended its regular-season home winning streak to 53, as the Huskers scored a 196.525 to defeat Florida (196.35), ArizonaState (195.625) and Illinois (194.025) and secured an eighth straight Master’s Classic title. Once again, it came down to the Huskers’ final routine on the floor exercise to earn the win, and Harris came through with a 9.875.

The Huskers scored above 49.0 in three events including the vault (49.35), the uneven bars (49.175) and the floor exercise (49.125). Harris led the Huskers in the all-around, capturing her first all-around title of the season with a career-high 39.55.

In their final away meet of the season, the Huskers competed against Minnesota on March 6.  NU hit 22 of 24 routines and defeated the Gophers 196.75-196.625. Four Huskers set new individual career highs, while NU captured first place on three of the four events ? Harris and freshman Michele Zabawa on vault, Landgraf on bars and Saas on beam.

 

Esposito led the Huskers in the all-around at Minnesota, winning her third all-around title of the season with a score of 39.45.  She also tied for third place on the balance beam (9.85) and tied for second place on the floor exercise (9.90). 

 

Landgraf captured first place on the uneven bars with a career-high 9.95 and tied for third on the vault. Zabawa and Harris tied for first place on the vault with a 9.90. Harris also finished in second place (9.875) on the balance beam, while Saas took first place on the event with a 9.925 and tied for fourth place on the floor exercise.

In the last home meet of the season, NU sought to keep their home winning streak intact by capturing a win over IowaState.  The day proved to be a challenge for both teams, as each squad battled to 198.00.  It was the first time since 1979 that NU had tied another team in a dual meet.

 

Heading into the Big 12 Championships, the Huskers appeared confident in their ability to defend the Big 12 Conference title. But NU came up short, finishing in fourth place (196.175), while Oklahoma stole the crown with a score of 196.95.

The Huskers scored above 49.0 in three events, vault (49.125), uneven bars (49.20) and floor exercise (49.25). Landgraf led the Huskers, finishing in fourth place in the all-around competition with a score of 39.40. She took All-Big 12 honors in the all-around competition and on the vault. Landgraf finished fourth on vault (9.85), eighth on uneven bars (9.825), seventh on balance beam (9.85) and eighth on the floor exercise (9.875). Esposito finished fifth in the all-around competition (39.375) and was the Big 12 co-champion on the uneven bars, tying Erin Dethloff of IowaState and Oklahoma’s Kasie Tamayo with a 9.90. 

 

With renewed confidence, the Huskers traveled to Raleigh, N.C., to compete in the 2004 Southeast Regional. NU went on to finish in second place with a score of 196.375 to eventual national champion UCLA (197.325).  The Huskers narrowly defeated North Carolina by .025 points, advancing to the NCAA national championships. The Huskers hit 23 of 24 routines, scoring above 49.0 in three events: vault (49.30), balance beam (49.175) and floor exercise (49.125).

Esposito led the Huskers in the all-around competition, finishing fourth with a score of 39.425. She tied for 12th place on the vault (9.85), tied for sixth on the uneven bars (9.80), tied for eighth on the balance beam (9.875) and tied for second on the floor exercise (9.90). Harris tied for seventh (39.15) in the all-around, while Landgraf tied for fourth (9.90) on the vault, tied for sixth (9.80) on the uneven bars, and tied for 11th (9.85) on the floor exercise. Carter tied for fourth (9.90) on the vault, while Saas tied in eighth (9.875) on the balance beam.

NU gave solid performances on the vault, as all six of the Huskers hit their vaults, and each gymnast scored above 9.80 in the event. Carter and Landgraf led the Huskers, scoring 9.90 and tying for fourth place. Esposito posted a 9.85, while seniors Bruce and Harris each scored 9.825.  Zabawa added a 9.80, as NU finished the event with a 49.30, its highest score of the evening on any apparatus.

The Huskers hit all of their bars routines in their first rotation, as Esposito and Landgraf led the Huskers with a 9.80 and tied for sixth place in the event.  Harris added a 9.775, while Zabawa and Bruce both scored 9.7.  Freshman Natasha Gowda scored a 9.55, as the Huskers finished the event with a team total of 48.775.

The Huskers went 5-for-6 on the balance beam, as Saas and Esposito led the Huskers, tying for eighth place with a 9.875. Harris posted a solid 9.85, while Zabawa added a 9.80 to aid the Huskers’ efforts in the event. In addition, Carter scored a 9.775, as the Huskers finished the event with a 49.175.

NU went 6-for-6 on floor with each gymnast scoring above 9.70, as Esposito led the Huskers, scoring a 9.90 and tying for runner-up honors in the event. Landgraf added a solid 9.85, while Bruce posted a 9.825. In addition, Zabawa scored a 9.80 and Carter scored a 9.75. Harris also scored a 9.70, as NU finished on the event with a 49.125.

The Huskers then moved on to compete in their sixth straight NCAA Championships.  Although NU competed solidly in all of their routines, the young squad finished in fourth place (196.15) during the first session of the preliminary team competition.

 

 “I was pleased with the team’s performance overall. We worked hard throughout the meet and hit our routines,” Kendig said. “There are little things here and there that could have been better, but we didn’t have to count a fall, and we hit 23 routines.”

The Huskers hit 23 of 24 routines. NU scored above 49.0 in two events, including the uneven bars (49.125) and the vault (49.25). Four Huskers combined for six All-America awards, including three first-team All-America awards.

Esposito led the Huskers, tying for fourth place in the all-around with a 39.45 and capturing first-team All-America honors. She also earned first-team All-America honors on the balance beam (9.90), finishing in first place in the event. Esposito also tied for 10th on the uneven bars (9.85) and for 14th on the floor exercise (9.875).

Landgraf took home first-team All-America honors on the uneven bars (9.925), finishing in first place in the event while also claiming second-team All-America honors on the vault (9.875), tying for seventh place in the event. Zabawa added second-team All-America honors on the vault, tying for seventh place (9.875). In addition, Saas earned second-team All-America honors on the balance beam (9.80), tying for eighth place in the event.

NU had a solid performance on the vault, as all six of the Huskers hit their vaults with each gymnast scoring above 9.825. Landgraf and Zabawa led the Huskers, each scoring 9.875 and tying for seventh place. Harris added a 9.85, while Esposito, Carter and Bruce all scored 9.825. NU finished the event with a 49.25, its highest score of the evening on any apparatus.

The Huskers hit five out of six of their bars routines in the fourth rotation, as Landgraf led the Huskers with a 9.925 and captured first place in the event. Esposito scored a 9.85, while Zabawa scored a 9.825. In addition, Gowda added a 9.775, and Harris scored a 9.75. The Huskers finished the event with a 49.125 in the event.

The Huskers went six for six on the balance beam, as Esposito led the Huskers, capturing first place with a 9.90. Saas posted a solid 9.80 and tied for eighth place, while Zabawa and Harris each added a 9.775 to the Huskers’ efforts in the event. In addition, Carter scored a 9.625 and Landgraf scored a 9.60, as the Huskers finished the event with a 48.875.

NU went 6-for-6 in the event with each gymnast scoring above 9.70, as Esposito led the Huskers, scoring a 9.875 and tying for 14th place in the event. Landgraf scored a 9.825 and Carter scored a 9.775. Zabawa also scored a 9.725, while Bruce scored a 9.70 and Harris scored a 9.60. The Huskers finished the event with a 48.90.

At the NCAA Individual Event Finals, Esposito proved that she would be a powerful force for the Huskers over the next three years by capturing first-team All-America honors on the balance beam and all-around. She posted a 9.90, tying for third place in the event with Elise Ray of Michigan, as Ashley Kelly of Arizona State posted a 9.95 to win the individual NCAA beam title and Jeana Rice of Alabama took second place (9.913). Esposito, a two-time All-American, received four 9.90s, one 9.95 and one 9.80 from the six-judge panel. 

Landgraf, who competed with the second group of competitors on the uneven bars, scored a 9.75 and took 11th place.  The six-time All-American received two 9.80s, two 9.75s and two 9.70s from the six-judge panel.