Nebraska Signs Three to 2007 Class

Lincoln ? Nebraska signed three gymnasts for its 2007 recruiting class, as Erin Davis, Kathryn Howard and Stephanie Seich are set to become Huskers next fall, head coach Dan Kendig announced Monday.

 

“We have three outstanding gymnasts signed to make up a really nice recruiting class,” Kendig said. “They will have an immediate impact on our program, and they are excited to be part of this great Nebraska family.”

 

Davis is a Level 10 product of Capital Gymnastics in Austin, Texas, and is coached by Barry Hyder and Chris Conner. A three-time Junior Olympic National Championships qualifier, Davis took second on floor, third on vault and sixth on beam in 2006. She posted ninth-place finishes on vault and floor in 2005, and in the previous year at 2004 J.O. Nationals, she grabbed third-place honors on vault. Davis attends Stony PointHigh School in Round Rock, Texas.

 

“Erin was a bit of an unknown factor in our initial recruiting, but when we saw her at her gym, she really wowed us,” Kendig said. “She has the ability to do a great job for us on floor and vault, and has good skills and consistency on beam. She is powerful and has huge tumbling, good dance and a great vault. Erin is the total package on both floor and vault, and we see her as someone who could contend for All-America honors and an NCAA title during her Husker career.”

 

Howard will come to Nebraska as a Level 10 competitor from Cypress Gymnastics in Houston, Texas and coach Terry Walker. Howard captured the Texas state beam title in 2006 with a 9.80, while also finishing third on bars (9.55) and fourth in the all-around with a season-high 39.30. At the 2006 Kurt Thomas Invitational, Howard also finished first on beam (9.625). Howard is homeschooled, and she boasts a 4.0 grade-point average from KeystoneNationalHigh School.

 

“I had the opportunity to work with Kathryn this past summer at CampWoodward (as a master staff instructor), and I was very impressed by the way she went about her work,” Kendig said. “She has a good, strong work ethic, and she is an intelligent gymnast. We feel very strongly about Kathryn helping our program on bars and beam right away.”

 

A former international elite competitor, Seich is coached by Diane Farrell at Rebound Gymnastics in New Brunswick, N.J. A native of South Amboy, N.J., she qualified to the 2005 U.S. Classic, and as a junior international elite in 2004, she finished 13th in the all-around at the U.S. Classic and 18th in the all-around at the U.S. Championships. Seich is homeschooled through A Beka Academy.

 

“Stephanie has a chance to come into our program and do very well on all four events,” Kendig said. “She has competed strong as an elite, and she has a good foundation with her skills. I think she is excited about coming to Nebraska, and because of that, she will be able to come here and excel.”

 

“As a class, all three gymnasts are really going to compliment each other,” associate head coach Danna Durante said. “They are a good combination of strength, power and grace, and we are excited about what they will add to our program. Academically, they are all great students, and it’s great to welcome three balanced athletes who will perform well athletically and academically.”

 

Nebraska opens its 2007 season on Jan. 5 at the Super Six Challenge in Fayetteville, Ark. The Huskers, who return seven All-Americans to their lineup, will face nationally-ranked Arkansas, Florida, LSU, PennState and Denver.