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Lincoln - The top-ranked Nebraska women’s gymnastics team will play host to No. 19 Minnesota and Air
Force in a triangular this Sunday, March 6, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center at 2 p.m. NU is 6-4 on the season and will look to defend its 55-meet home unbeaten streak, as the Huskers captured their 11th consecutive Masters Classic title on Feb. 27. This Sunday’s meet will also feature the 11th-ranked Nebraska men’s gymnastics team as it takes on No. 9 Minnesota.
With its first No. 1 national ranking in program history, the Husker women will be gunning for their fourth home victory this year. The Huskers picked up a solid win by scoring a 196.725 to defeat No. 12 Denver (194.45), No. 16 Kentucky (194.90) and No. 20 Auburn (194.05) at the Masters Classic.
Senior Richelle Simpson claimed her fourth vault title of the season with a 9.975, as well as her
third floor title (9.95), en route to a first-place finish for her third all-around title (39.625). Freshman Emily Parsons won her first balance beam title of 2005 by tying her season-high 9.90 on the event, while finishing second in the all-around (39.45). In addition, sophomore Kristi Esposito won the Huskers’ fourth individual event title of the afternoon by scoring a 9.875 on bars. The first-place finish on bars was Esposito’s third of the year.
Scouting the Gophers
Co-Head Coaches - Jim and Meg Stephenson
2005 Record - 6-7 2004 Overall Record - 8-18
2004 Regional Finish - 6th (192.225) 2004 NCAA Finish - Did Not Qualify
Co-Head Coaches Jim and Meg Stephenson bring their talented team into its ninth meet of the
season ranked No. 19 nationally. Most recently, the Gophers posted a win over Iowa, 195.775-195.425 on Feb. 26. Junior Laura Johnson won the all-around with a 39.25, while also taking the uneven bars title (9.85). Last season, the Gophers finished sixth at the NCAA North Central Regional (192.225).
Despite losing four letterwinners, Minnesota returns seven athletes from 2004, including All-Big
Ten honorees Johnson and senior Carolyn Yernberg, both of whom are two-time all-conference honorees.
The Gophers have experience from five other returning letterwinners, including juniors Maria
Opsahl, Kelly Stout, sophomores Stephanie Funk, Kelly Ganchan and Kim Womack. In addition to redshirt freshmen Andrea Cornelius and Ashley Stanton, Minnesota added four true freshmen to its roster in Amanda Miles, a top-five finisher at the 2003 Junior Olympic National Championships, Ashley Mutchler, three-time J.O. Nationals competitor Rehana Russell and Angela Walker, who swept every individual title at the 2004 Junior Olympic Regionals.
Jim Stephenson is in his 13th season as the Gophers’ head coach, while Meg Stephenson has been a co-head coach for eight years. They hold a career record of 174-163-1 and have led Minnesota to top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships in 1997 and 2002. Together, the Stephensons have coached four gymnasts to six All-America awards and were honored as NCAA Regional Coaches of the Year in 2002.
NU last took on Minnesota on March 6, 2004, narrowly defeating the Gophers 196.95-196.625 while bringing the Huskers to a 16-9-1 all-time series lead.
Scouting the Falcons
Head Coach - Lisa Woody 2005 Record -1-10
2004 Overall Record - 3-18 2004 Regional Finish - Did Not Qualify
2004 NCAA Finish - Did Not Qualify
Head Coach Lisa Woody’s Air Force squad enters its eighth competition of the year with a 1-10 record, its only win coming in its first meet of the season, 188.925-186.15 over Texas Woman’s University. The Falcons most recently competed in a quadrangular at TWU, where they placed fourth (189.65). In 2004, USAFA held a 3-18 record and finished sixth (192.525) at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Conference Championships.
Air Force headed into the season having lost four letterwinners, but returned five gymnasts with collegiate experience. Senior Jessa Liegl, a Lincoln native, highlights the Falcons’ veterans, as she is an all-conference selection on vault, uneven bars, balance beam, floor exercise and the all-around.
Among the team’s other key returners are junior Lauren Robison, who was named all-conference in the all-around, and sophomore Christine Powers. The Falcons added five freshmen to their roster in 2005 -- Callae Canfield, Katie Donnell, Emi Kreiner, Kelly Lewis and Jill Ward.
Woody is in her sixth season as Air Force’s head coach and holds a career record of 26-48. She has coached her Falcon squads to two NCAA Regional appearances and was honored as NCAA Regional Coach of the Year in 2001. Woody is assisted by Lt. Tammy Ritchey.
NU last met Air Force in 1994, when they defeated the Falcons 192.05-177.05. The Huskers lead the all-time series at 8-0 since the first match-up in 1983.
Up Next for the Huskers...
Nebraska will play host to No. 9 Iowa State next Sunday, March 13, at the BobDevaneySportsCenter at 2 p.m. The Huskers will honor seniors Richelle Simpson and Jamie Saas for their achievements in a special Senior Day ceremony prior to the meet. In addition, fans will have the opportunity to enjoy Dollar Days, a special promotion that includes meet admission, hot dogs and Pepsi products for $1 each.
Nebraska Notes at the Masters Classic
-The Huskers set or tied six-season high scores on Sunday, including a team best score on the floor exercise (49.40).
-Senior Richelle Simpson’s 9.95 on floor exercise gave her a new season high on the event.
-Freshman Emily Parsons tied her season-high beam score with a 9.90 to take her first beam title of the year. Parsons also tied her season best on floor with a 9.925 to place second.
-Sophomore Stephanie Carter tied her own season high 9.85 on floor to tie for fourth with freshman Brittney Williams.
-Senior Jamie Saas matched her season-high score on floor with a 9.825 to finish in a tie for eighth with sophomore Kristi Esposito.
-NU won its 11th consecutive Masters Classic title with the win over Kentucky, Auburn and Denver on Sunday.
-Nebraska’s No. 1 national ranking marks the first time in program history that the Huskers have secured the top spot in the country.
Simpson, Parsons Earn Big 12 Gymnast-of-the-Week Honors
Senior Richelle Simpson was named Big 12 Gymnast of the Week for meets Feb. 22-28, the conference office announced Tuesday. The Toronto, Ontario, native earned the honor for the second time this season and the eighth time in her career.
Simpson won two event titles and captured the all-around title with a score of 39.625 in Nebraska’s win over Kentucky, Auburn and Denver at the Masters Classic on Feb. 27. She claimed her fourth vault title of the year with a 9.975 and won the floor with a season-high 9.95. Simpson placed second on beam (9.85) and third on bars (9.85).
Simpson joins freshman Emily Parsons as one of two Huskers to earn Big 12 Gymnast-of-the-Week accolades in 2005. She earned her first Gymnast of the Week accolades on Jan. 24 for her performance at Florida, while Parsons earned the honor on Feb. 8 and Feb. 22.
Coaching Milestones
Head Coach Dan Kendig is the all-time winningest coach in the 29-year history of the Nebraska women's gymnastics program. In 12 seasons at Nebraska, Kendig is 268-95-3 overall and 193-35-1 in regular season meets. Kendig enters his 22nd year of coaching and owns a career record of 367-195-3.
A six-time Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year, Kendig has guided the Huskers to eight conference championships and three straight regional championships (2000, 2001 and 2002).
He has also led Nebraska to nine NCAA Championship 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 fourth at the NCAAs.
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 leading the Huskers again in 2005, after her 2004 season was cut short by a knee injury. The Toronto, Ontario native was granted a medical hardship year by the NCAA and hopes to defend her status as a nine-time All-American at Nebraska.
This season, Simpson has won three all-around titles, as well as four titles on vault, two on balance beam and three on floor exercise. For her accomplishments at the Masters Classic and at Florida, she has been named Big 12 Gymnast of the Week twice, giving her a total of eight in her Husker career. In addition, Simpson scored her first perfect 10.0 of 2005 on vault at Missouri, just the third time in her career she has accomplished such a feat.
In 2003, Simpson led NU to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, which were held 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. 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 first-team All-American on all five events in the same season.
Nebraska Results at Michigan (Jan. 7)
Name Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around
Stephanie Carter 9.750 --- 9.950 9.700 ---
Kristi Esposito 9.625 9.800 9.850 9.800 39.075
Kylee Johnson --- 9.625 --- --- ---
Emily Parsons --- 9.700 9.825 9.850 ---
Jamie Saas --- --- 9.200 9.750 ---
Richelle Simpson 9.725 9.800 9.800 9.325 38.650
Desire’ Sniatynsk 9.325 9.750 9.825 --- ---
Brittney Williams 9.700 9.750 --- 9.525 ---
Team Totals 48.125 48.800 48.65 48.625 194.20
Nebraska Results at UCLA (Jan. 17)
Name Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around
Stephanie Carter 9.825 --- 9.35 9.075 ---
Kristi Esposito 9.525 9.80 9.375 9.725 38.425
Emily Parsons 9.90 9.80 9.325 9.90 ---
Jamie Saas --- --- 9.825 9.10 ---
Richelle Simpson 9.75 9.775 9.90 --- ---
Desire’ Sniatynski 9.525 9.85 9.025 --- ---
Brittney Williams 9.70 9.775 --- 9.35 ---
Michele Zabawa --- 9.80 --- --- ---
Team Totals 48.70 49.025 47.775 47.15 192.65
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
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
Nebraska Results vs. Oklahoma (Feb. 5)
Name Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around
Stephanie Carter --- --- 9.625 --- ---
Kristi Esposito 9.625 9.925 9.85 9.825 39.225
Kylee Johnson --- --- --- 9.70 ---
Emily Parsons 9.95 9.70 9.825 9.925 39.40
Jamie Saas --- --- 9.825 9.825 ---
Richelle Simpson 9.875 9.825 9.925 9.875 39.50
Desire’ Sniatynski 9.80 9.85 8.225 --- ---
Brittney Williams 9.725 9.825 --- 9.85 ---
Michele Zabawa 9.775 9.85 --- --- ---
Team Totals 49.125 49.275 49.075 49.30 196.775
Nebraska Results at Iowa State (Feb. 11)
Name Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around
Stephanie Carter 9.95 --- 9.825 --- ---
Kristi Esposito --- 9.825 9.875 9.85 ---
Dani Millis --- --- --- 9.30 ---
Emily Parsons 9.95 9.70 9.85 9.825 39.325
Jamie Saas --- --- 9.85 9.825 ---
Richelle Simpson 9.975 9.775 9.675 9.90 39.325
Desire’ Sniatynski 9.675 9.875 8.975 --- ---
Brittney Williams 9.775 9.80 --- 9.85 ---
Michele Zabawa 9.825 9.75 --- --- ---
Team Totals 49.475 49.025 49.075 49.20 196.775
Nebraska Results vs. Utah (Feb. 20)
Name Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around
Stephanie Carter 9.875 --- 9.675 9.85 ---
Kristi Esposito --- 9.80 9.20 9.80 ---
Emily Parsons 9.925 9.725 9.90 9.925 39.475
Jamie Saas --- --- 9.90 9.775 ---
Richelle Simpson 9.875 9.80 9.90 9.90 39.475
Desire’ Sniatynski 9.80 9.775 --- --- ---
Brittney Williams 9.75 9.775 --- 9.75 ---
Michele Zabawa 9.75 9.85 9.80 --- ---
Team Totals 49.225 49.000 49.175 49.250 196.650
Nebraska Results - Masters Classic (Feb. 27)
Name Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around
Stephanie Carter 9.875 --- 9.475 9.85 ---
Kristi Esposito --- 9.875 9.85 9.825 ---
Emily Parsons 9.925 9.70 9.90 9.925 39.45
Jamie Saas --- --- 9.65 9.825 ---
Richelle Simpson 9.975 9.85 9.85 9.95 39.625
Desire’ Sniatynski 9.725 9.80 --- --- ---
Brittney Williams 9.725 9.775 --- 9.85 ---
Michele Zabawa 9.775 9.80 9.70 --- ---
Team Totals 49.275 49.100 48.950 49.400 196.725