Super Six

Here we go again! You know, Bama just loves ending on the balance beam and once again drew this rotation for the Super Six (bye, floor, vault, bye, bars, beam). That makes four consecutive meets that the Tide drew this rotation (SECs, Regionals, and Nationals both nights) to close out the 2002 season. Another interesting piece of information: Bama went 72 for 72 routines in their last three meets this year. Now that's the mark of a true championship team!

Let's take this opportunity to recall some of the highlights from the routines performed by each of the Super Six teams in the order of their finish this year.

6th Place: Stanford University: 196.025

The Stanford Cardinal, led by new head coach Kristen Smyth, was determined to not only make Nationals this year, but to push through to the Super Six after failing to do so last year in Athens. Competing without sophomore Robin Phelps (medical redshirt this year) and having to ease redshirt freshman Kendall Beck back into the line-up after she missed her first year due to an ACL injury, the Cardinal was hard-pressed to match the depth of some of the other teams. However, they remained very focused and enthusiastic throughout the two sessions and competed very solid routines with some nice difficulty. Beck performed admirably on the vault (9.875) and sophomore Lise Leveille was impressive on the beam (9.925) and floor exercise (9.85). Sophomore Lindsay Wing, a former USA National Team Member, posted respectable scores on the bars (9.825), beam (9.825) and floor (9.800) but struggled mightily on the vault (9.200). Sophomore standout Caroline Fluhrer posted the team's highest score on the uneven bars (9.85) and should be back in the all around next year (suffered an injury earlier this year). The Cardinal will look forward to the return of Phelps and will welcome 2001 USA National Team Member Natalie Foley for the 2003 season.

5th Place: Nebraska Cornhuskers: 196.425

Would you rather start on balance beam or end on it? Well, the Huskers did not have a choice Friday night and so resolved themselves to stay on no matter what in the first rotation. They were not as steady overall as they had been in Thursday's preliminary meet but were able to drop a 9.675 (Jen French) and finish with a 48.75 on this event. Sophomore Richelle Simpson, a transfer from Penn State this season, posted the Huskers' highest score on the beam at 9.85. Unfortunately, AJ Lamb (9.725), Jamie Saas (9.75), Tami Harris (9.725) and Laura Goss (9.70) each had several form or balance breaks that were deducted accordingly. The team picked up the pace on floor exercise with again a very nice routine by Richelle Simpson (9.900) that was highlighted by a super opening pass of a double layout (legs perfectly together throughout her flight). AJ Lamb was a close second (9.85) and Tami Harris (9.825) and Jen French (9.825) punched in nice performances of their own. Solid vaults were later turned in by Lamb (9.85) and Jessica Wertz (9.85) but the Huskers left their best performances for their final event, uneven bars (three score of 9.90 by Wertz, Libby Landgraf and Julie Houk). Nebraska is looking forward to hosting their first Nationals in Lincoln next year and should put on a good show for the home crowd. They will welcome the return of redshirt sophomore Alecia Ingram, who had to sit out this year due to shoulder surgery.

4th Place: Utah Utes: 196.950

The Utes had to open on the floor exercise in rotation one and finish on beam in the fifth rotation, sitting out the sixth rotation on a bye with UCLA. While Utah had some really beautiful floor routines in terms of choreography and music choices (we especially liked Kulikowki's and Vituj's), they were overall as a team less crisp during the second night of competition. Freshman Annabeth Eberle (9.775) popped out of her second pass (double pike) but was much more expressive in her dance and presentation compared to her Elite competition days. She will only get better with time. Senior Deidra Graham's (9.80) performance on the second night improved in terms of completing her double pike and double tuck passes with better landings. There was a nice opening triple twist by sophomore Melissa Vituj (9.90) and a full in by senior Lindsay Tanner (9.75). Shannon Bowles (9.80) and junior Teresa Kulikowski (9.85) won hands down for most artistic dance and expression in their routines. The better vault highlights were provided by sophomore Veronique Leclerc (9.90) and Kulikowski (9.85) while on the uneven bars, the Utes posted impressive scores by Bowles (9.90), Leclerc (9.90) and Kulikowski (9.95) that allowed them to drop junior Kim Allan's score of a 9.225 (she suffered a wicked body slam during a transition to the low bar, landing on the bar at her midriff section). Unfortunately, Deidra Graham took a lunging step forward on her bars dismount, resulting in a 9.725 that had to be counted. Finishing up on the beam, Utah's first three performers (Eberle: 9.80, Leclerc: 9.80, Graham: 9.80) were not as steady as their final three performers (Vituj: 9.85, Bowles: 9.95 and Kulikowski: 9.95). The Utes are losing Bowles, Graham, and Tanner but should be just as strong next year with the inclusion of Crystal Gilmore from Canada, Gritt Hoffman from Germany, and the return of Kylee Wagner for a redshirt senior year. They have also signed a gymnast from South Africa and will have a truly international team for 2003.

3rd Place: UCLA Bruins: 196.150

The Bruins started on the uneven bars in rotation one and it was looking at first like they would run away with the competition, posting very strong scores from junior Onnie Willis (9.875), sophomore Yvonne Tousek (9.90), junior Doni Thompson (9.875) and sophomore Jamie Dantzscher (9.90). However, once they moved to the balance beam, UCLA began to experience some problems with form and execution, starting with Doni Thompson's 9.75 and ending with a very scary fall from sophomore Alyssa Beckerman in the sixth position (9.050). The steadiest performance was turned in by junior Malia Jones (9.875), along with solid routines by Onnie Willis (9.85) and Yvonne Tousek (9.85). Dantzscher (9.825) had balance checks at various points in her routine. After sitting out a bye in rotation three, the Bruins moved to the floor exercise where three of their routines lacked the sharpness and panache that we've come to expect from the defending champs: Malia Jones (9.775), Alyssa Beckerman (9.80), and Yvonne Tousek (9.825). Kristin Parker (9.85 for a double front Arabian, one hop forward on landing), Onnie Willis (9.875 for nice dance interpretation but tumbling was not quite as crisp as on Thursday) and Jamie Dantzscher (9.95 for a truly mesmerizing routine that was marred only by a little trouble on her two leap series and her timing at the end was off just a bit) turned in stronger performances that paced the team to a 49.30 total. Finishing up on the vault, Michelle Conway literally hit the ground with a 9.275, which put pressure immediately on Tousek (9.80), Jeanette Antolin (9.85) and Parker (9.80). Willis (9.925) and Dantzscher (9.95) provided the extra punch but it was not enough to salvage the coveted prize for a third straight year. The 2003 season looks to be a bright one for the Bruins. Along with the return of a healthy Kristen Maloney, the UCLA will expect big things from incoming freshmen Kate Richardson (Canadian National Team Member) and Holly Murdock from Ireland. Wow, another truly international team to match Utah's!

2nd Place: Georgia Bulldogs: 196.250

Spunky, scrappy, tenacious, determined. Sounds like a bulldog! And the Georgia Lady GymDawgs were not going down without a fight though Coach Suzanne Yoculan had earlier described them as a walking paradox, given all the injuries they had to go through to get to this point. They once again drew the coveted Olympic rotation order (vault, bye, bars, beam, bye, floor exercise) and tried to make the most of it. Senior Eileen Diaz started the team off in magnificent fashion on the vault with a career high 9.875 that motivated sophomores Chelsa Byrd (9.90) and Marline Stephens (9.85) in their subsequent efforts. A fall by sophomore Sierra Sapunar (9.25) required that freshman Michelle Emmons' (9.80) and sophomore Cory Fritzinger's (9.825) vaults be counted in the final tally of 49.250. However, Sierra redeemed herself on the uneven bars (9.85) and Byrd (9.90) and Fritzinger (9.90) performed gutsy routines of their own to pace the team to a 49.325 total. In rotation four the GymDawgs demonstrated why they are one of the most consistent teams on the balance beam, posting a 49.375 total. Stellar performances were turned in by Fritzinger (9.925), Sapunar (9.875) and junior Cassie Bair (9.875), who had just returned to the line-up after suffering a dislocated knee in March. Senior Talya Vexler (9.85) was as polished as ever on the beam and Marline Stephens (9.85) threw the most difficult dismount for the team, a double tuck. After sitting out on a bye in the fifth rotation, Georgia moved to the floor exercise in the sixth. Their first three routines were able to garner a 9.825 (Loren Simpson), a 9.775 (Emmons), and a 9.90 (Vexler) before Cory Fritzinger had a fall on her second tumbling pass of a double tuck (9.325). Sierra Sapunar (9.875) and Marline Stephens (9.925) rode to the rescue and the low score was dropped. Georgia had a great competition but just couldn't quite kick that closed door in Alabama's face (to quote Coach Yoculan). Finishing second two years in a row will certainly motivate them to go all out in 2003. Fortunately for the GymDawgs, the calvary is on the way, with three USA National Team Members (Marie Fjordholm, Brittany Smith, and Ashley Miller) and a Level 10 standout, (Jamie Ackerman) joining the team for 2003.

1st Place: Alabama Crimson Tide: 197.575

The Tide was definitely on a mission Friday night, starting off on the floor exercise in the second rotation with a 49.425 team total. Sophomores Stephanie Kite (9.75) and Jeana Rice (9.85) again had solid opening performances that prepared the way for junior Kristin Sterner (9.90), freshman Alexis Brion (9.90) and senior Andree Pickens (9.90). Sophomore Lauren Holdefer also once again replaced senior Raegan Tomasek in magnificent fashion, throwing three double backs for a 9.875. Bama moved on to the vault in rotation three and posted a 49.325 with five 10.0 vaults thrown. Sophomore Erin Holdefer was not quite as sharp on her front pike (9.75) as she was Thursday evening but still had great distance and height. Kristin Sterner's return to the line-up was perfectly timed and she threw a super pike 1/2 twist (9.875). Jeana Rice's Yurchenko full (9.90), Alexis Brion's pike 1/2 (9.85), and Andree Pickens' Yurchenko full (9.95) propelled the team to a running score at this juncture of 98.750. Alabama had a bye in the fourth rotation and moved confidently to the uneven bars in the fifth. They were determined to improve upon their performance on this event from the preliminary competition, as demonstrated by the opening routines from Jeana Rice (9.875) and sophomore Tiffany Byrd (9.90). Freshman Shannon Hrozek (9.85) and Kristin Sterner (9.85) kept up the pace and seniors Natalie Barrington (9.875) and Andree Pickens (9.95) put the icing on the cake for a team total of 49.450. Having now become quite familiar with finishing on the balance beam in the final rotation, the Tide eagerly went after their routines, starting with senior Alexa Martinez in place of Raegan Tomasek. Martinez was splendid, throwing a combination of unique (head roll to immediate stag leap) and difficult (a straddle Popa and a wolf Popa) skills, and sticking her Rudi dismount along the way for a 9.85. Coach Patterson was already starting to cry at this point and gave Alexa a long hug for her courageous efforts on both nights in this most critical lead off position. Shannon Hrozek (9.825) and Tiffany Byrd (9.825) kept the streak going and Jeana Rice (9.90), Kristin Sterner (9.85) and Andree Pickens (9.95) threw their routines without compromising on the difficult skills. The cheers from the partisan crowd had started to build after Byrd nailed her dismount and pretty much reached a crescendo after Sterner sealed the championship with her double pike dismount. However, it was Pickens' awesome routine that brought the Bama Nation collectively to their feet, to honor the leader that refused to be denied a team championship in HER house! So the Tide wins it with room to spare, having turned their early season nemesis (the beam) into their post-season touchstone. And just like the other teams, the Tide has much to look forward to next year, as they will welcome five USA National Team members into the fold, two of whom are World Team Members: Larissa Stewart, Mari-Christine Bayer, Dana Pierce, Dana Filetti, and Ashley Miles. College gymnastics continues to get better and better. See you next year in Lincoln, Nebraska!