Huskers Compete in Annual Intrasquad Meet

Lincoln -- The Nebraska women's gymnastics team gave its fans their first opportunity to see the 2005 squad in action, as the Huskers competed in their annual intrasquad meet Friday night at Mabel Lee Hall.

 

“I’m really, really pleased with the start we had tonight,” Head Coach Dan Kendig said. “It was so encouraging to see Richelle (Simpson) coming back strong. She looks fabulous. Jamie (Saas) had a shoulder surgery in the off-season, and she looked good. I feel like it was a great start for them.”

 

Simpson, who was the 2003 NCAA National Champion in the all-around and floor exercise, started off with a team-high 9.90 on vault. Simpson had the highest score on every event for the Huskers, earning a 9.85 on the uneven bars, 9.875 on the balance beam and 9.875 on floor. Saas, a mainstay in the Huskers’ beam lineup the past three years, scored a 9.225 in the event while also competing on floor with a 9.675.

 

The entire NU squad came out strong on every apparatus in Olympic order, starting the evening on the vault, then moved to the uneven bars, followed by the balance beam and the floor exercise.

 

“Our sophomores are looking better than they were, and our freshmen ? what a spark,” Kendig said. “They knew what they needed to do today, and they were prepared. If they can do what they did for today, they’ll be ready for Michigan.”

 

Nebraska opens its 2005 season Friday, Jan. 7, at Michigan at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor at 6:30 p.m. (CST).