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The second-ranked Nebraska women’s gymnastics team will play host to No. 10 Iowa State in its final regular-season home meet of the year this Sunday, March 13, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center beginning at 2 p.m. NU is 8-4 on the season and will look to defend its 56-meet home unbeaten streak, as the Huskers posted a 196.15 to win last week’s triangular with Minnesota and Air Force. This Sunday’s meet will be televised on NET1 and will feature a special post-meet ceremony honoring seniors Richelle Simpson and Jamie Saas for their career accomplishments. The competition will be a double dual as the 10th-ranked Nebraska men’s gymnastics team as it takes on No. 16 Air Force.
Last week senior Richelle Simpson led the way for Nebraska, claiming her fifth vault title of the season (9.90), as well as her first on bars (9.875) and third on beam (9.875). Freshman Emily Parsons matched Simpson’s 9.90 on vault to tie for first, while freshman Desire’ Sniatynski won her first career floor exercise title with a 9.875.
Huskers to Honor Simpson, Saas with Senior Day Ceremony
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.
Scouting the Cyclones
Head Coach - K.J. Kindler 2005 Record - 11-2
2005 High Score - 196.925 2004 Overall Record - 14-4-1
Big 12 Finish - 2nd (196.925) 2004 Regional Finish -3rd (196.15)
2004 NCAA Finish - Did Not Qualify
Head Coach K.J. Kindler’s squad heads into its 10th meet of the season ranked No. 10 nationally after posting a 195.10 to finish second behind No. 11 Oregon State, but ahead of Washington and UC-Davis in the Salbasgeon Suites Invitational on March 4. Sophomore Janet Anson won her sixth all-around title of the year with a score of 39.325.
Last season, the Cyclones finished third at the NCAA Northeast Regional (196.15) and second at the Big 12 Championships (196.925). Iowa State is currently ranked third in the Big 12 behind Nebraska and Oklahoma and is 3-0 in conference duals. The Cyclones’ only losses of the season came at No. 3 Alabama, 195.825-193.75, on Jan. 14 and at last week’s quadrangular to Oregon State.
Iowa State is led by two-time All-American junior Erin Dethloff, who finished eighth on beam at the 2004 NCAA Championships, and Anson, who vaulted her way to sixth place and first-team All-America honors last season. Anson was also named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. Joining Dethloff and Anson as a NCAA Championships individual qualifier is junior Laura-Kay Powell, who competed as a floor exercise specialist.
The Cyclones return 13 letterwinners, including seniors Abigail Richey and Susan Stock, juniors Krystal Carney, Kacey Oiness and Jessica Oney and sophomore Katie Lasher. ISU welcomes one freshman, Lindsey Murphy, to its talented squad.
Kindler is in her fifth season with the Cyclones. She has coached seven individual NCAA Championships qualifiers, 14 Big 12 champions and was named Big 12 Coach of the Year in 2004.
The Last Time Nebraska and Iowa State Met...
Sunday’s meet at the Devaney Center marks the 29th straight season the Huskers and Cyclones will compete against each other. Nebraska leads the all-time series against Iowa State 74-10-1.
The Huskers last met ISU on Feb. 11, 2005 in Ames, Iowa. NU posted a score of 196.775 and scored 49.0 or higher on all four events, but the Cyclones captured the win with a 196.925. ISU’s Laura-Kay Powell and Janet Anson tied for the all-around title (39.50), and Nebraska’s Richelle Simpson and Emily Parsons tied for fourth (39.325). Simpson won the vault (9.975) and floor (9.90) titles, and sophomore Kristi Esposito earned the balance beam crown with a 9.875. Freshman Desire’ Sniatynski added a 9.875 on the uneven bars to capture first-place honors on the event.
Up Next for the Huskers...
Nebraska will travel to No. 15 Arkansas next Saturday, March 19, to take on the Razorbacks, as well as No. 5 UCLA and 11th-ranked Oregon State. The quadrangular will be held at Barnhill Arena in Fayetteville, Ark. and is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Nebraska Notes vs. Minnesota and Air Force
-The Huskers set or tied five season-high scores on Sunday, including freshman Desire’ Sniatynski, who scored a 9.875 on floor exercise. The season-high mark gave Sniatynski her first career floor title as a Husker.
-Freshman Kylee Johnson competed on floor for the second time this year, posting her own season high with a 9.725.
-Sophomore Michele Zabawa tied her season-best 9.825 to place second on vault.
-Senior Richelle Simpson matched her season high on the uneven bars with a 9.875 to win her first title on the event of 2005.
-Freshman Brittney Williams tied a season-high 9.825 on bars to finish in a three-way tie for fifth with Zabawa and sophomore Kristi Esposito.
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 on Feb. 8. 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 270-95-3 overall and 195-35-1 in regular season meets. Kendig is in his 22nd year of coaching and owns a career record of 369-195-3.
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 five titles on vault, one on uneven bars, three 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.
<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska Results at Michigan (Jan. 7)<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>
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’ Sniatynski 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
Nebraska Results - vs. Minnesota/Air Force (March 6)
Name Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around
Stephanie Carter 9.80 --- 9.725 9.80 ---
Kristi Esposito --- 9.825 9.60 9.825 ---
Kylee Johnson --- --- --- 9.725 ---
Emily Parsons 9.90 9.775 9.825 --- ---
Jamie Saas --- --- 9.325 9.70 ---
Richelle Simpson 9.90 9.875 9.875 --- ---
Desire’ Sniatynski 9.725 9.85 --- 9.875 ---
Brittney Williams 9.775 9.825 --- 9.825 ---
Michele Zabawa 9.825 9.825 9.675 --- ---
Team Totals 49.200 49.200 48.700 49.050 196.150