NU Finishes Fourth at Super Six Challenge

Athens, Ga. -- The sixth-ranked Nebraska gymnastics team opened the 2000 season with a fourth-place finish at the Super Six Challenge in front of a sellout crowd of 9,934 at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Ga., Saturday evening.

The Huskers finished with a team score of 193.325, edging out No. 3 UCLA (193.225) for fourth-place as the Huskers finished behind No. 2 Alabama (195.75), top-ranked Georgia (195.40) and fourth-ranked Michigan (194.925). No. 9 Florida finished sixth with 193.025 points in a meet which featured six of the nation's top nine teams. The loss was the first for Georgia, the two-time defending NCAA Champions, in 30 meets, dating back to the 1997 NCAA Championships.

"We felt ready to perform and did a decent job overall," Nebraska Coach Dan Kendig said "We had a few mistakes, but they are all correctable. I was pleased with the performance, especially of our freshmen, in this type of environment. The best thing is that we have the entire season ahead of us and we will get better."

The Huskers, who had four freshmen in the lineup, were led by freshman A.J. Lamb (Lincoln), who finished the all-around with a fifth-place score of 38.90. Lamb's all-around total was the second-best total by a Husker competing in her first all-around, trailing only senior Heather Brink's score of 39.175 against Iowa State in 1997. The four gymnasts who finished ahead of Lamb are all returning All-Americans.

"We are very pleased with A.J's performance tonight," said Kendig. "To come into this situation and hit four routines is a tremendous accomplishment for a freshman. She has a lot of natural ability and she will continue to get better for us."

The return to Georgia was a successful homecoming for Husker sophomore Laura Goss (Austell, Ga.). Goss tied for first place on balance beam with a career-best score of 9.875, tying Alabama's Robin Hawkins and Kristi Lichey of Georgia. Goss, who performed in front of many of her family and friends that made the 45 mile to Athens from Austell, set a personal best on beam with her 9.875, topping her previous career high of 9.85 against Penn State last season. The tie was the first career event title for the sophomore, who also set career bests on all three events, including a 9.70 on vault and a 9.475 on floor exercise.

"I can't this of a better person to have this happen to," Kendig said. "She had an opportunity to come home in front of her family and friends and really did an outstanding job. No gymnast works as hard as Laura does in the gym, and it was great to see her perform so well in front of her family and friends."

In addition to Lamb and Goss, senior All-American Heather Brink (Lincoln) finished ninth in the all-around with a score of 38.625, including eighth-place finishes on both vault (9.80) and uneven bars (9.85). Junior Amy Ringo (Phoenix, Ariz.) was the only other Husker to finish in the top 10 on an event, placing eighth on beam with a 9.75.

The Huskers travel to Ames, Iowa, next Friday, Jan. 14, to face Iowa State at 7 p.m. Nebraska opens the home portion of its schedule on Jan. 29, when the Huskers play host to Missouri at Noon. Tonight's meet will be broadcast on espn2 on Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. and on ESPN on Jan. 23 at 1 p.m.