Huskers Begin Big 12 Conference Schedule at Missouri

Huskers Begin Big 12 Conference Schedule at Missouri

The 23rd-ranked Nebraska women’s gymnastics team will travel to Columbia, Mo., this Friday, Jan. 28 to take on its first Big 12 opponent when the Huskers tangle with the Tigers. Missouri is 3-2 on the season after losing to No. 10 Iowa State, No. 15 Michigan State and No. 20 Arizona, and producing wins over Illinois-Chicago and Centenary.

 

The Huskers look to rebound after a tough 0-3 start, with an opening loss at No. 3 Michigan, followed by No. 2 UCLA and No. 10 Florida.

 

Despite suffering a 196.95-196.675 loss at No. 10 Florida, senior Richelle Simpson captured the all-around title, her first 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) to tie with fellow Husker senior Jamie Saas, and a fourth-place finish on uneven bars (9.875).

 

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, while Carter had 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.

 

Scouting the Tigers

Head Coach - Rob Drass

2004 Overall Record - 15-3                               Big 12 Finish - 3rd (196.425)

2004 Regional Finish - 5th (196.85)                   2004 NCAA Finish - Did Not Qualify

 

Head Coach Rob Drass’ squad heads into its fourth meet of the season after a win over Centenary, (191.275-188.225). In 2004, the Tigers finished fifth at the Northeast Regional (196.85) and third at the Big 12 Conference Championships (196.425).

 

MU returns 10 letterwinners for 2005, including one All-American in senior Alisha Robinson, who finished seventh on vault at the 2002 NCAA Championships. Missouri’s other top returners include junior Lauren Schwartzman and sophomores Kelley Andersen, Amanda Pezzullo and Whitney Crater. After losing six letter winners from 2004, the Tigers welcome five freshmen to their squad in Julie Abaray, Nicole Bowman, Ashley Khederian, Katie Kluga and Lisa Puccio.

 

Drass, who is in his sixth year as head coach, is a former assistant coach at Nebraska. He helped the Huskers to four NCAA Championships appearances from 1992-1999.

 

The Last Time Nebraska and Missouri Met...

Friday’s meet in Columbia marks the 24th straight season the Huskers and Tigers will compete against each other. Nebraska leads the all-time series against Missouri 52-6.

 

The Huskers last met the Tigers on March 20, 2004 at the Big 12 Championships in Ames, Iowa. NU finished fourth (196.175) at the conference championships, while Missouri placed third (196.425). Four Huskers earned All-Big 12 nods, including Libby Landgraf (AA, V), Gina Bruce (V), Big 12 uneven bars champion Kristi Esposito (BB) and Michele Zabawa (BB).

 

In regular-season competition, Nebraska played host to the Tigers at home and outscored them 197.750-195.650. The Huskers claimed every individual event title, highlighted by Gina Bruce’s 10.0 score on vault to take first. In addition, senior Richelle Simpson took the uneven bars title (9.925), senior Jamie Saas scored a 9.975 on balance beam and Landgraf earned a 9.95 on floor exercise. Landgraf and Esposito tied for first-place honors in the all-around with a 39.425.

 

Up Next for the Huskers...

Nebraska will compete at home for the first time this season, as No. 11 Oklahoma will visit the BobDevaneySportsCenter on Saturday, Feb. 5, at 7:30 p.m. The Sooners, led by senior All-American Erin LaBarr, are 3-0 on the season. Oklahoma takes on No. 21 Ohio State on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m.

 

Simpson Named Big 12 Gymnast of the Week

Senior Richelle Simpson was named Big 12 Gymnast of the Week for meets from Jan. 18-24, the conference office announced Tuesday. Simpson earned the honor for the seventh time in her career.

 

The Toronto, Ontario native won the all-around title with a score of 39.650 in the Huskers’ meet at No. 10 Florida. Simpson also captured first place on the vault (9.975) and floor exercise (9.90), placed second on balance beam (9.90) and fourth on uneven bars (9.875).

 

Coaching Milestones

Head Coach Dan Kendig is the all-time winningest coach in the 29 years of Nebraska women's gymnastics history. In 12 seasons at Nebraska, Kendig is 264-94-3 overall and 190-34-1 in regular season meets. Kendig enters his 22nd year of coaching and owns a career record of 362-194-3.

 

A six-time Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year, Kendig has guided the Huskers to eight conference championships and three straight regional championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

 

He has also led Nebraska to nine NCAA Championships appearances in the past 11 seasons, including NCAA Super Six Finals appearances in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. Kendig was honored as the NCAA Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2003, a year in which the Huskers finished with a final ranking of fourth in the nation.

 

Under Kendig's tenure in 2004, Nebraska finished with a 15-9-1 overall record. The Huskers placed second (196.375) in the Southeast regional behind eventual NCAA champion UCLA. NU also placed 10th (196.150) in its sixth consecutive NCAA Championships appearance. Three of Kendig's gymnasts -- Libby Landgraf (V, UB), Kristi Esposito (AA, BB) and Michele Zabawa (V) -- earned a total of five All-America honors.

 

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

 

Simpson Returns for Senior Season

Senior Richelle Simpson is expected to lead the Huskers in 2005, as last year her senior season was cut short due to a knee injury. The Toronto, Ontario native was granted a medical hardship year by the NCAA and now looks to defend her status as a 10-time All-American at Nebraska.

 

In 2003, Simpson led NU to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, which were hosted in Lincoln. She was crowned national champion on the floor exercise (9.963) and the all-around (39.675), finishing ahead of UCLA's 2002 NCAA all-around champion Jamie Dantzscher and Kate Richardson in third place. Simpson earned first-team All-America accolades on the vault, uneven bars, balance beam, floor exercise and the all-around. She is the only woman in Nebraska gymnastics history named an All-American on all five events.

 

Nebraska Results at Florida (Jan. 21)

Name                           Vault    Bars     Beam   Floor    All-Around

Stephanie Carter            9.90      ---         9.825    9.80            ---

Kristi Esposito               9.70      9.90      9.825    9.675        39.10

Emily Parsons               9.90      9.80      9.70      9.90          39.30

Jamie Saas                     ---       ---         9.90      9.60            ---

Richelle Simpson           9.975    9.875    9.90      9.90          39.65

Desire’ Sniatynski          9.225    9.90      9.05        ---             ---

Brittney Williams           9.775    9.775      ---       9.70            ---

Michele Zabawa ---         9.825      ---         ---             ---

   Team Totals              49.25    49.30    49.15    48.975    196.675