No. 9 Huskers Open Home Schedule with No. 10 Oklahoma

The ninth-ranked Nebraska women’s gymnastics team will play host to No. 10 Oklahoma in its first home dual of the season this Saturday, Feb. 5, at 7:30 p.m. at the BobDevaneySportsCenter. The Sooners are 7-0 and the defending Big 12 Conference champions, as they ended NU’s three-year conference championship run in 2004.

 

Nebraska looks to continue its success after capturing its first win last week at Missouri, 196.800-195.575. Senior Richelle Simpson and sophomore Kristi Esposito turned in stellar performances to lead the Huskers past the Tigers. Esposito won her second all-around competition of the season with a 38.850, while Simpson took two event titles and scored Nebraska’s first perfect 10.0 on the season with a scintillating performance on vault to add a second-place showing in the all-around.

 

Esposito tied for second on beam, tied for third on floor and finished fifth on the uneven bars. Simpson’s two titles came on the vault and balance beam (9.925), and the Toronto, Ontario, native scored a 38.825 to finish second behind Esposito.

 

Freshman Emily Parsons also starred for the Huskers, taking the floor exercise title with a 9.925, while placing third in the all-around (38.800). NU claimed its fourth event title of the night with freshman Desire Sniatynski’s 9.875 on uneven bars. Sniatynski also tied for fifth on beam.

 

Scouting the Sooners

Head Coach - Steve Nunno                              2005 Record - 7-0

2004 Overall Record - 20-13                            Big 12 Finish - 1st (196.95)

2004 Regional Finish -1st (197.10) 2004 NCAA Finish - 11th (score)

 

Head Coach Steve Nunno’s squad heads into its fifth meet of the season after wins over No. 19 Ohio State and IllinoisState at the Ohio State Triangular. In 2004, the Sooners finished 11th (195.75) at the NCAA Championships, first at the West Regional (197.10) and took the Big 12 Conference championship (196.95) from Nebraska, which previously held a three-year streak of league titles.

 

Despite losing two-time All-American Kasie Tamayo, OU returns nine letterwinners for 2005, including two All-Americans in senior Erin LaBarr (AA, UB) and sophomore Tiffany Willin (V). Joining LaBarr and Willin as key returning letterwinners are sophomores Ashley Cooney, Brittany Koncak and Elizabeth Tandy, juniors Katie Hostler, Tara Anderson and Kristen Cox, and senior Nicole Gause. Cooney, the defending Big 12 Conference vault champion, was named the Big 12 Gymnast of the Week on Jan. 31.

 

Oklahoma’s freshman class could also make an impact on the Sooners’ success. Oklahoma welcomes eight freshmen to its lineup after losing three letterwinners from the 2004 team. Four freshmen -- Coral Borda, Caitlin Hinkis, Jessica Kinder and Stephanie LoPiccolo -- have seen significant time in the Sooner lineup in four meets this season.

 

Nunno is in his fifth season with the Sooners. He has guided the Oklahoma gymnastics program to two NCAA Championships appearances in the last four seasons.

 

The Last Time Nebraska and Oklahoma Met...

Saturday’s meet at the DevaneyCenter marks the 24th straight season the Huskers and Sooners will compete against each other. Nebraska leads the all-time series against Oklahoma 51-16.

 

The Huskers last met the Sooners on April 15, 2004 at the NCAA Championships in Los Angeles, Calif. NU finished fourth (196.15) at the first session of preliminaries, while Oklahoma placed fifth (195.75). Four Huskers earned All-America honors at the NCAA Championships, including Libby Landgraf (V, UB), Jamie Saas (BB), Kristi Esposito (AA, BB) and Michele Zabawa (V).

 

In regular-season competition, Nebraska traveled to Norman, Okla., to take the dual from the Sooners 196.60-196.35. Landgraf and Tami Harris finished second (39.35) and third (39.275) in the all-around, and Harris and Esposito tied for the uneven bars title with a 9.90.

 

Up Next for the Huskers...

Nebraska will travel to Ames, Iowa, to take on Big 12 Conference rival Iowa State, next Sunday, Feb. 13 at 2 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones, led by sophomore Janet Anson, are 5-1 on the season and ranked No. 11 nationally.

 

Simpson Named Big 12 Gymnast of the Week

Senior Richelle Simpson was named Big 12 Gymnast of the Week for the week of Jan. 18-24, the conference office announced Monday, Jan. 24. 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 on Jan. 21. 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-year history 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 Missouri (Jan. 28)

Name                           Vault    Bars     Beam   Floor    All-Around

Stephanie Carter            9.875    ---         9.725    9.85            ---

Kristi Esposito               9.275    9.80      9.90      9.875        38.85

Emily Parsons               9.95      9.55      9.375    9.925        38.80

Jamie Saas                     ---       ---         9.90      9.825          ---

Richelle Simpson           10.00    9.075    9.925    9.825        38.825

Desire’ Sniatynski          9.75      9.875    9.825      ---             ---

Brittney Williams            9.80      9.75        ---       9.875          ---

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

   Team Totals              49.375  48.80    49.275  49.35      196.800