Simpson Claims All-Around Title at Florida

Gainesville, Fla. ? Senior Richelle Simpson captured the all-around title, but the No. 19 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team fell at No. 10 Florida, 196.950-196.675, Friday night at the O’Connell Center.

 

Despite the loss to the Gators, the Huskers displayed individual and team improvements by scoring better than 49.00 in three of four events to finish with a season-high team score of 196.675.

 

Simpson, the 2003 NCAA all-around champion, claimed her first all-around title of 2005 by producing a 39.650. Simpson won the vault title as well with a sizzling 9.975, and tied for first on the floor exercise (9.90) with Husker freshman Emily Parsons.  Simpson added a second-place showing on balance beam (9.90) and a fourth-place finish on uneven bars (9.875).

 

“This meet today was Richelle’s ?coming out party’ this season,” Nebraska Coach Dan Kendig said. “In the first few meets, she seemed to be more cautious and was testing the waters a little. You can’t be cautious in this sport. She came out today and really shined in competition.”

 

In addition to tying Simpson for first place on the floor exercise, Parsons tied for second on vault (9.90) with NU sophomore Stephanie Carter.  Parsons added a third-place finish in the all-around, who finished third. Carter added a sixth-place finish on beam (9.825).

 

Sophomore Kristi Esposito finished in a three-way tie for first on bars with a 9.90, matching Husker freshman Desire Sniatynski. Esposito also matched Carter's sixth-place showing on beam (9.825), while finishing fifth in the all-around.  

 

Two Florida All-Americans led the Gators to the win. Samantha Lutz, who tied for two individual event titles of her own ? bars (9.90) and floor (9.90) ? and Breanne King, who took first on beam with a 9.95. All-American Katie Rue also placed second in the all-around (39.350) behind Simpson.

 

Nebraska began the competition on the uneven bars, where all six competitors placed on the event. Esposito and Sniatynski led the Huskers by scoring 9.90 to finish in a three-way tie for first with Lutz. Simpson followed in fourth place with a 9.875 to match Florida's Sherie Owens.  Nebraska's Michele Zabawa and Parsons finished sixth (9.825) and seventh (9.80), respectively. Husker freshman Brittney Williams placed eighth with a 9.775 to help the Huskers finish with a 49.30 on bars.

 

Nebraska moved on to vault, where Simpson won the event with a 9.975. Parsons and Carter each scored a 9.90 to place second, and Williams finished sixth (9.775). Esposito added a 9.70 to bring NU to an event score of 49.25.

 

Parsons and Simpson led the Huskers on the floor exercise, while tying Lutz with scores of 9.90. Carter added a season-high 9.80 on the event, and Williams scored a solid 9.70. Esposito provided the Huskers with a 9.675 to give Nebraska a season-high 48.975 on the event.

 

NU capped the evening on balance beam, as Jamie Saas and Simpson each scored 9.90 to tie for second with the Gators’ Katie Rue. Carter and Esposito tied for sixth place with 9.825, and Parsons added a 9.70. The Huskers completed their final event with a 49.150.

 

“I’m extremely pleased with our team’s performance tonight,” Kendig said. We had a high energy level the whole meet. I feel like we won today in the sense that we did what we set out to do. This is a great step forward and exactly what we want and expect out of this team as the year goes on.”

 

The Huskers continue their January road schedule with a meet Friday, Jan. 28, at Missouri.  Competition begins at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo., at 7 p.m.