Nebraska Heads to NCAA Championships

Lincoln -- After capturing their second straight South Central Regional title, the Nebraska womens gymnastics team will head to Athens, Ga., to compete in the NCAA Championships April 19-21. The Huskers posted the eighth best regional score with a 196.200, and will be competing in the evening session with Stanford, Georgia, Denver, Utah and Arizona State. Michigan, Oregon State, UCLA, Alabama, Oklahoma and Florida will all compete in the afternoon session.

The top three teams from both the afternoon and evening sessions will advance to Fridays Super Six competition, where the national champion will be crowned. Along with the team competition, the all-around champion will be determined on Thursday. In addition, the top four individuals on each event (including ties) from both preliminary sessions will compete on Saturday for the individual event titles.

Although the Huskers string of six consecutive meets with at least a 197, ended at the South Central Regional, Nebraska still owns the longest win streak in the nation. The Huskers only loss came at the hands of top-ranked UCLA, which defeated the Huskers in their season opener on Jan. 5. Utah, which owns the second-longest win streak, also fell victim to UCLA. The Utes lost195.700-197.50 to the Bruins on Jan. 21, with Utahs only other blemish coming at Washington, where both teams earned scores of 196.725.

Media Information
Nebraska will arrive at the Lincoln Municipal Airport at 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, April 17 for an 11:15 a.m. flight departure. The Holiday Inn Athens will serve as the teams headquarters throughout the NCAA Championships. Tanya Wright, the Sports Information contact for womens gymnastics, will travel with the team and can be reached to arrange interviews for media members not attending the championships. The Holiday Inn phone number is (706) 549-4433. Wright can also be reached by cellular phone at (402) 770-7896 or by e-mail at twright@huskers.unl.edu.

The Holiday Inn Express, located at 513 West Broad Street will serve as the media headquarters for the NCAA Womens Gymnastics Championships.

All 12 teams competing in the championships will be available at the press conference on Wednesday, April 18 in the conference room at Stegeman Coliseum. The head coach and an athlete from each team will be available to answer questions. Utah, Florida, Oregon State and Alabama will start things off at 2 p.m., followed by Michigan, Georgia, Oklahoma and UCLA at 2:20 p.m. Nebraska Head Coach Dan Kendig and freshman Alecia Ingram will be available at 2:40 p.m., along with representatives from Stanford, Denver and Arizona State.

Immediately following the press conference, Nebraska will practice from 3 p.m. to 4:40 p.m., along with Stanford, Denver and Arizona State. The first session, featuring Utah, Florida, Oregon State and Alabama, will start at 10 a.m. and end at 11:40 a.m. Michigan, Georgia, Oklahoma and UCLA make up the second session (noon to 1:40 p.m.), while session three, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., consists of the individual event qualifiers.

The NCAA Championships will be broadcast by CBS on a tape-delayed basis and aired on Sunday, April 29 at noon. Craig Bolerjack will handle the play-by-play with assistance from Amanda Borden (color) and Bonnie Bernstein (sideline).

Highlight feeds from the afternoon session will be available April 19, from 3:15 to 3:30 p.m., while highlights from the afternoon session will be available between 9:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Super Six highlights will be from 9:30 to 9:45 p.m. April 20, while the individual event finals will be shown April 21 from 9:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. All feeds are available on satellite GE GE TWO, KU band, 85 degrees West, Transponder 10 (H), Channel 10, Downlink Frequency 11900.0.

Live scoring for all teams and individual competitors will be provided on by Georigias website, www.georgiadogs.com.

Nebraska Notes
Although the Huskers struggled on beam at the South Central Regional, they did manage to pull themselves together to tie their season high on floor. Their mark of 49.475 equalled their season-opening performance at the Maui Invite in Lahaina, Hawaii.

Nebraska also received strong individual performances from a pair of freshmen. Tami Harris, who returned to the all-around after competing only on bars at the ASU Invite and on vault, bars and beam at the Big 12 Championships, captured her second all-around title of the season. Harris tied her career high on floor with a 9.925, sharing the title with Arizonas Randi Liljenquist and Penn States Katie Rowland. Harris also tied second on the uneven bars with a score of 9.875. The Virginia Beach, Va., native posted a 39.40 in the all-around, missing her career-high by just 0.05 points.

Nebraskas only other all-arounder, Alecia Ingram, has also been sidelined with injury and has not participated in the all-around in the Huskers last six meets. Even though she doesnt compete on floor, Ingram has been a vital component of Nebraskas success. Ingram came up big at the regional meet, nailing her beam routine after watching the previous two Huskers fall off the apparatus. Her score of 9.85 gave her a share of second place and also helped the Huskers record the highest beam score on the evening with a paltry 48.625.

Ingram, who has dominated the vault all season, captured her eighth title with a 9.875. In addition to Harris and Ingram, the Huskers also received strong performances from sophomore Bree Dority OCallaghan and Jess Wertz. OCallaghan, who opened on beam for Nebraska, posted a 9.85 to tie with Ingram for second, and also posted a 9.90 on floor to tie with Wertz for fourth on floor. The 9.90 on floor marked only the third time this season that either gymnast has posted at least a 9.90.

Nebraskas NCAA Championship History
In Nebraskas 26-year history, the Huskers have advanced to the NCAA Championships 11 times, including five times under Head Coach Dan Kendig. Prior to the NCAA Championships, the Huskers advanced to the AIAW Championships in 1979 and 1980, where they finished 11th and 16th, respectively.

In their 11 national appearances, Nebraska has finished lower than 10th only once (11th in 1995), and have earned three top-five finishes, including a fourth-place finish at the 2000 championships, the highest finish in school history.

Under Kendig, the Huskers have advanced to the Super Six Finals in three of the last four years, and have captured two consecutive regional titles.

Last Season at the NCAA Championships
Boise, Idaho - Last season the Nebraska womens gymnastics team equaled its best showing in school history with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Super Six Finals.

The Huskers finished with a score of 196.725, as Nebraska tied the 1989 team for the highest NCAA finish in school history. It is Nebraskas best finish under Head Coach Dan Kendig, as the Huskers placed sixth in both 1997 and 1999.

UCLA won its second team title in four years, placing first with a score of 197.30. Utah placed second with a 196.875, followed by Georgias total of 196.80. Alabama (196.50) and Michigan (195.725) rounded out the team finishes. UCLA ended Georgias string of back-to-back NCAA crowns.

The Huskers turned in solid performances, scoring 48.975 or better on all four events, as senior NCAA all-around champion Heather Brink (Lincoln, Neb.) paced the Huskers with a 39.60 in the all-around. A.J. Lamb and Amy Ringo also scored 39 or better in the all-around, finishing with scores of 39.25 and 39.15, respectively.

Entering the last rotation, the Huskers were in fourth place, trailing Alabama by .20, but leading Georgia by .05. The Huskers finished with a 39.35 on floor exercise, paced by Brink and Lambs score of 9.90. In all, each Husker gymnast scored 9.85 or better, as NU posted the third-best team score on floor. Alabama struggled to a 48.925 on beam to place fifth, while Georgia passed the Huskers with a 49.475 on vault, capped by Kristi Licheys 10, the best score of any gymnast on the evening.

In the first rotation, the Huskers opened with a 49.15 on vault to finish the rotation in second place behind UCLA, which opened with a 49.375. Nicole Wilkinson opened with a 9.80, while Laura Goss (9.85) and Heather Brink (9.95) turned in solid performances.

After sitting out the second rotation on a bye, the Huskers rebounded from Thursday evenings performance on uneven bars, hitting all six routines for a team score of 49.25. Brink and Houk led NU with scores of 9.925, second only to UCLAs Mohini Bhardwajs 9.95.

In the indivdidual event finals, After winning one individual NCAA title in the programs first 24 years, senior Heather Brink doubled that total in three days, winning the NCAA vault title with a score of 9.95 Saturday evening.

Brink scored a 9.95 on both vaults, the highest score of the session. She scored a 9.95 on her yurchenko back layout 1 ½ on her first vault, before equaling the mark on her second vault, a layout tsukahara with a twist, a vault she had never used in competition. During the NCAA Individual Event Finals, both vaults were averaged together, instead of taking the highest score, as done during the rest of the season.

Brink, who placed 12th on vault at last years NCAA Finals and eighth in 1997, was Nebraskas second NCAA vault champion, joining Michele Bryant, who placed first in 1990. Brink, who was ranked third nationally in the event, scored a 9.90 during Thursdays preliminaries to tie for fourth, earning the final qualifying spot in the event finals.

On the uneven bars, Brink continued her excellence with a 9.925, putting her in first place until UCLA junior Mohini Bhardwaj scored a 9.95 on the second-to-last routine. Brinks runner-up finish ties Crystal Savage, who was a runner-up in 1989, for the best uneven bars finish in school history.

On the floor exercise, Brink, who recorded the best score during Thursdays session, placed eighth with a 9.80, while NU freshman A.J. Lamb (Lincoln, Neb.), who stepped out of bounds on her second tumbling pass, finished ninth on floor with a 9.7125.

The 2000 season marked one of the most successful years in Nebraskas 25-year history. After finishing with a 25-5 regular-season record, the Huskers captured their first regional title since 1983 and placed fourth at the NCAA Championships, equaling the best finish in school history. Five Huskers earned All-America honors, including Brink and Lamb, who were first-team honorees. Brink was also a finalist for the AAI All-America award, won by Arizonas Heidi Hornbeek.

Scouting the Afternoon Session
Of the six teams in the first session, Nebraska is familiar with four of them. Coached by Valorie Kondos, UCLA, the 2000 NCAA Champions, enters the competition with the highest score this season (198.25). The Bruins, favored to win the competition, are 23-2 on the season, with losses coming to Arizona State (Jan. 26) and Stanford at the Pac-10 Championships (March 24).

Senior Mohini Bhardwaj, a member of the U.S. Olympic team, owns the second-best all-around score in NCAA history with a 39.975. After posting a 9.975 on vault, Bhardwaj followed with10s on bars, beam and floor. Her mark was the highest ever recorded by a Bruin gymnast and sits second on the NCAA charts behind Georgias Karin Lichey, who recorded a perfect 40.0 in 1996.

Bhardwaj, the 2000 NCAA all-around runner-up, will attempt to defend her uneven bars title.

Florida, which the Huskers defeated 197.325-196.625 on March 4, at 15-12 on the season and are coming off a runner-up finish at the Southeast Regional, where the Gators posted a season-high 196.65. Guided by Judi Markell, the Gators boast two strong all-arounders in junior Hilary Thompson and senior Gabby Fuchs.

The Huskers faced Oregon State early in the season, defeating the Beavers in Nebraskas season opener on Jan. 14. The West Region runner-ups, Oregon State is coached by Tanya Chaplin. Oregon State is 5-9 on the season, but have posted a season high 197.425.

Oklahoma, a team Nebraska has defeated three times this season, is 16-6 this season, under co-head coaches Becky Switzer and Steve Nunno.

Alabama and Michigan are two teams NU has not faced in 2001. Alabama, one of only three teams to reach 198.00 this season, won the Central Region with a season-best 198.00, crushing runner-up Arizona State (195.95). Coach Sarah Patterson has been with the Tide for 23 years and has guided them to three NCAA Championship titles, most recently in 1996.

Big Ten Champions, Michigan (20-7) has 2000 Olympian Elise Ray on its roster. Ray has posted a team-leading 39.65 in the all-around and helped the Wolverines to a season-high score of 197.575 on March 17.

Scouting the Evening Session
Host Georgia, the third and final team to record a 198.0 this season, captured its third consecutive Southeast Region title on March 23. Coached by Suzanne Yoculan, who has guided the Gym Dogs to five NCAA Championships, Georgia will look to regain the national title it lost to UCLA last season. Georgia won the championship in 1998 and 1999, before finishing third behind UCLA and Utah last season.

Stanford, one of only two teams to defeat top-ranked UCLA, will look to play the role of the spoiler once again as the Cardinal boasts super freshman Lindsay Wing, who posted a team-high 39.75 in the all-around. Coached by Mark Cook, Stanford won the Pac-10 title, defeating UCLA with a season-best 197.85, and finished second to Michigan in the Northeast Regional.

North Central Region champion Utah, is the only other team in the competition other than Nebraska with only one loss in 2001. The Utes are 13-1-1 on the season and own a season-high 197.925. The Utes have a dominating all-arounder of their own in junior Deidre Graham. Graham owns a career high 39.725, and finished 10th in the all-around at the 2000 NCAA Championships. Graham is backed by classmate and four-time All-American Shannon Bowles, who has thrown two 10.0s this season (beam and floor).

Arizona State, the Central Region runner-up, wont be happy to see Nebraska again. At the Arizona State Invitational on March 16, Nebraska pulled off what no other school had been able to do in five years - beat the Sun Devils at home. With the victory, Nebraska snapped a regular season home-winning streak that dated back to Feb. 2, 1996, when Utah defeated ASU 193.875-193.25. The ASU Invite were also proved to be a milestone for NU sophomore Jess Wertz, as she became just the second Husker to record a 10.0 on the vault.

The Sun Devils are coached by John Spini, who owns an impressive 262-92-1 career record.

Denver, which claimed the 12th and final qualifying spot with a second-place finish at the North Central Regional (193.90), is 13-8 on the season. Coached by Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart, the Pioneers own a season-high score of 196.625.

Ingram Sweeps Big 12 Honors
Freshman Alecia Ingram earned both Big 12 Gymnast of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in a vote of the leagues head coaches highlighting the 2001 Big 12 Womens Gymnastics All-Conference honors. Oklahoma co-head coaches Becky Switzer and Steve Nunno were named Big 12 Coaches of the Year.

Ingram is the first student-athlete in Big 12 history to capture both of the year honors in different years or the same year. The Knoxville, Tenn., freshman has the conferences second-best all-around score of the season with a 39.625. In addition she was a two-time Big 12 Gymnast of the Week selection.

Five Huskers Earn Academic All-Big 12 Honors
Five members of the Nebraska womens gymnastics team were honored by the Big 12 Conference for their work in the classroom.

Nebraska led all schools with five selections, including four on the first team. Sophomores Jen French (Exercise Science), A.J. Lamb (Elementary Education), Bree Dority OCallaghan (Business Administration) and Jess Wertz (Biological Sciences) were all named to the first team, while senior Amy Ringo (Art) earned second-team honors.

To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.0 grade point average or higher, either cumulative or the two previous semesters, and must have participated in 60 percent of her teams scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence.

Dority OCallaghan Earns Academic Recognition
Sophomore Bree Dority OCallaghan was one of three Huskers selected to Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District VII team. The Kearney, Neb., native carries a perfect 4.0 GPA in business administration and has helped the Huskers to a No. 3 ranking as NU prepares for this weekends competition. Dority OCallaghan was also the Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 1999, as well as earning academic All-Big 12 honors on two occasions.

The national team will be announced later in the spring. All-time, 175 Huskers have been named to the Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-America team, a total that leads all of college athletics.

Huskers Remain Perfect at Home Under Kendig
The Huskers have won 37 straight regular-season meets at the Devaney Center, including all 36 under head coach Dan Kendig. The last time the Huskers did not win a regular-season home meet was at the 1993 Masters Classic.

The Huskers also boast a home meet win at Pershing Auditorium, the site of this years Masters Classic, to bring Nebraskas home meet streak to 38.

The only times Nebraska has not taken first at home under Kendig were the 1995 Midwest Regional, when Nebraska finished second to NCAA champion Utah, and at the 1999 Region 3 Championships when the Huskers finished second to NCAA runner-up Michigan.

Nebraska Coach Dan Kendig
University of Nebraska Coach Dan Kendig reached a milestone last season, becoming the winningest coach in school history. Kendig now has a 146-27 (.844) record in eight seasons at Nebraska, passing Rick Walton, who compiled a 121-52 (.628) record from 1984 to 1993.

A six-time conference coach of the year, Kendig has guided the Huskers to seven conference titles and six NCAA Championship appearances in the past eight seasons, including NCAA Super Six Finals appearances in 1997, 1999 and 2000. He was selected as the Region 3 Coach of the Year last season, guiding the Huskers to a 25-5 regular-season record and a No. 5 national ranking.

Kendig is assisted by third-year coach and former U.S. Olympian Rhonda Faehn.

Husker Tidbits
* - Of the 12 meets Nebraska has competed in this season, they have scored a 49 or better on all four events six times, including a streak of five straight meets, begining with their victory at the West Virginia Invite on Feb. 10. The streak, which lasted six weeks, was snapped at the Big 12 Championships on March 24. Their 48.90 on vault was their lowest score on the event since their dual with Iowa State on Jan. 19, when they recorded a 48.55.

* - Of the 24 opponents Nebraska has faced this season, 19 have been ranked in the top 25. The Huskers boast an 18-1 record versus ranked opponents, with their only blemish coming at the hands of top-ranked UCLA.

Inside The Numbers - Seeing Tens
10.0 - Nebraska has had two sophomores receive the highest honor in gymnastics. Jess Wertz received a 10.0 on vault at the Arizona State Invitational, while Bree Dority OCallaghan became the first Husker to receive a perfect score on the uneven bars, recording the mark at the Big 12 Championships.

10 - Number of class records set or tied this season. Alecia Ingram set new freshman records on vault (9.975), beam (9.925) and the all-around (39.625), while Ingram and Tami Harris tied A.J. Lambs floor record (9.925). Harris 9.975 bars score at the Masters Classic was not only a school and meet record, but it was also the highest bars score ever recorded by a freshman.

Bree Dority OCallaghan became the first Husker to receive a 10.0 on bars, and now owns the sophomore bars record outright. Meanwhile OCallaghan and Lamb share the Nebraska sophomore beam record of 9.95, which also ties former Husker Laurie McLaughlin for the highest mark in school history. Jess Wertz added her name to the recorded books as her 10.0 on vault put her in sole possession of the sophomore vault record.

Senior Amy Ringo is also in the mix, as she has twice recorded a 9.95 on floor, to tie Heather Brink and Kim DeHaan for the senior record.