Huskers Place Fifth at Super Six Finals

Athens, Ga. - The Nebraska women's gymnastics team ended its season with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Super Six Team Finals in Athens, Ga., Saturday night, capping a spectacular year that saw the Huskers captured both the Big 12 and South Central Region titles. Nebraska scored a 196.025 at the national championship to finish tied for fifth with Utah, while UCLA successfully defended its national title, edging host Georgia 197.575-197.40.

Entering the final rotation the Huskers sat in fourth place with a 147.375-147.25 lead over Alabama, but were forced to count a fall as the last two competitors were unable to stay on the balance beam. Freshman Alecia Ingram, who had not counted a fall on beam since February, fell on her tumbling series, and sophomore A.J. Lamb, the Huskers final competitor, was unable to regain her balance after her series. Although the Huskers closed their season with two falls, Head Coach Dan Kendig said he was pleased with Nebraska's performance at the championships and throughout the season.

"Obviously we're a little disappointed in how we finished," Kendig said. "It kind leaves a bad taste in your mouth missing the last two routines in the national championship. But that's the last you'll hear of that. We had a terrific season. We met a lot of competitive teams, some of which were here at the national championships. I'm really proud of the team. I know how hard they've worked and the type of effort they've put in."

Nebraska, which sat out the first rotation on a bye, started on floor and posted a solid 49.175. The Huskers then moved on to vault, an event they struggled on at Friday's qualifier. The Huskers were able to eliminate some of the steps that cost them points on Friday, and sat in fourth place after two events.

Following their second bye, Nebraska posted its highest score of the evening with a strong showing on their best event, the uneven bars. Ingram, who qualified for the Individual Event Finals on the event, equaled her score from Friday night's competition with a 9.875. Sophomore Bree Dority O'Callaghan, who earned second team All-America honors on bars, also scored a 9.875.

With one event remaining, Nebraska led fifth-place Alabama 147.375-147.25, and was five-tenths of a point ahead of sixth-place Utah. But with Nebraska's stumbles on beam, and a spectacular performance by Alabama on floor, the Crimson Tide edged the Huskers for fourth place. Utah, which struggled all evening as at least one gymnast fell on each event, had a strong showing on the uneven bars and pulled even with Nebraska, marking the second time in an NCAA Championship that the Utes have tied the Huskers. In 1997, Utah tied Nebraska in the qualifying round, with the Huskers winning the tiebreaker.

Individually, senior Amy Ringo, performing in her last collegiate meet, was solid for the Huskers, recording an impressive 9.85 on the balance beam, the best score of any Husker on the event. In addition, sophomore Jen French, who earned second-team All-America honors on beam Friday night, was a key contributor, posting scores of 9.825 on beam and floor, and scoring a solid 9.775 on the uneven bars.

"Jen French had a fabulous national meet," Kendig said. "What she did this meet was the best we could have expected from her."

Defending NCAA champions UCLA, which led Georgia by more than three-tenths of a point after two events, saw its lead evaporate after two gymnasts, including U.S. Olympian Mohini Bhardwaj fell on bars. Georgia, performing on floor in front of 8,245 screaming fans, scored a 49.375 to cut the Bruins lead to one-tenth of a point (148.00-147.90). However UCLA with a team full of Olympic and national championship veterans, rebounded on beam to clinch the victory.

Nebraska will have three gymnasts compete in Saturday's Individual Event Finals. Ingram and freshman Tami Harris will compete on bars, while freshman Gina Bruce will compete on vault.

NOTE: The six Huskers who earned All-America recognition from Friday's competition is the most in school history, surpassing the five gymnasts recognized in 2000. The three first-team honorees also tied for the most in school history, sharing the honor with the 1989 and 1997 teams. In addition, Ingram, who tied for sixth in the all-around is only the third Husker gymnast to earn first-team All-America status in the all-around, joining Patty Carmichael Gerard (1979) and 2000 NCAA All-Around Champion Heather Brink.