All-Americans Lead Huskers in 2008 Season

The <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska women’s gymnastics team completed the 2008 season with a third-place finish at the NCAA Southeast Regional and an overall record of 13-9 in its 25th straight NCAA postseason appearance. Two Huskers earned three All-America honors and qualified for individual event finals at the NCAA Championships, while one NU gymnast captured a Big 12 beam title at the conference championships.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Senior Emily Parsons closed her Husker career with a total of 11 All-America awards, including a first-team nod on beam and second-team recognition in the all-around. Parsons, who now ties with former Husker Heather Brink for the most All-America accolades in a career, finished as NCAA runner-up on beam in event finals. Parsons was also named the South Central Regional Gymnast of the Year for the third straight season, sharing the honor with Kiara Redmond-Sturms of Oklahoma and Allison Buckley of Illinois.

 

A native of St. Charles, Mo., Parsons claimed 114 individual event titles in her four years at Nebraska, including 29 in her senior campaign. The 2008 season saw Parsons run away with six all-around crowns, as well as 10 titles on vault, four on beam and nine on floor ? a total which helped her become NU’s all-time event titles leader, ahead of NU’s two former NCAA champions, Richelle Simpson (77) and Brink (70).

 

Senior Desire’ Sniatynski garnered first-team All-America honors on bars, giving her career total of four All-America nods. The all-arounder from Kenosha, Wis., completed her final season with a 12th-place showing in bars finals, scoring a 9.8375. Sniatynski tallied six individual titles on bars and two on beam in 2008, and was named All-Big 12 on bars. She was also honored on the All-Big 12 Championship team after taking third on bars and fourth in the all-around, and achieved a career-high all-around mark of 39.45 twice.

 

Junior Tricia Woo was Nebraska’s final individual to qualify for the NCAA Championships and competed as a beam and floor specialist at the national meet. Woo earned the first Big 12 title of her career at the Big 12 Championships, tying for first on beam (9.90) with OU’s Haley DeProspero. A three-time All-American, Woo was placed on the All-Big 12 Championship team on beam, as well as floor, where she finished third (9.875).

 

Woo also stepped up as an all-arounder in 2008, making her four-event debut at Stanford on March 7. She totaled a career-high 39.25 twice, including March 21 at PennState, where she also set a career best on bars (9.775). For her contributions as an event specialist, Woo was honored as Big 12 Event Specialist of the Week three times over the course of the season.

 

Sophomore Maria Scaffidi was a consistent all-around competitor for the Huskers, putting up a career-high 39.275 in the all-around against Missouri, as well as career bests on bars (9.875) and beam (9.85). Scaffidi was strong against conference rival IowaState, capturing her first career all-around title on Jan. 11 and winning the bars crown on March 14.

 

Sophomore Kathryn Howard moved into a three-event role for NU, competing on bars, beam and floor. The Houston, Texas, native won her first career event title at Oklahoma with a top finish on beam to tie teammate Sniatynski. With her addition to two event lineups, Howard tallied career highs on bars (9.75) and floor (9.625). She was also the only Husker to earn Academic All-Big 12 honors and was named to the first team for her efforts in the classroom.

 

Sophomore Sabrina Long returned to the competitive lineup for the first time in over a year, competing on vault and beam mid-way through 2008. Long scored a season-high 9.60 on each event and contributed through NU’s run to NCAA regional action.

 

Freshmen Erin Davis and Brittnee Habbib emerged as solid competitors in their inaugural campaigns, with Davis on vault and floor, and Habbib filling spots as an all-arounder and a three-event specialist. Davis notched a career-high vault score of 9.875 against Missouri and added a floor mark of 9.80 three times. Habbib, who was especially a help to the bars and beam lineups, earned career-best scores of 9.85 on both events, including three 9.85 marks on beam throughout the year.

 

Senior Vanessa Meloche was sidelined for all but one meet with a career-ending knee injury, scoring a 9.875 on bars to take runner-up status on the event against Missouri. The All-American from Montreal, Quebec, returned to the bars lineup in January after rehabilitating her third ACL tear for over a year, but quickly saw her Husker career come to an end.

 

Junior Kylie Stone and senior Brittney Williams were also slowed by preseason injuries, as the duo made no appearances due to rehabilitation.

 

With the Huskers’ 13-9 record, Head Coach Dan Kendig finished his 15th season at Nebraska with a program-best 355-136-4, continuing his impressive career as the winningest coach in NU women’s gymnasetics history. During Kendig’s tenure, the Huskers have qualified for the NCAA Championships 12 times, making nine appearances at the Super Six Finals. Kendig has coached 27 All-Americans to 97 first- or second-team honors.

 

2008 Season Highlights

?          NU finished with a 13-9 record and placed third at the NCAA Championships after making its 25th consecutive NCAA postseason appearance in program history.

?          Two Huskers earned a total of three All-America awards: seniors Emily Parsons (AA, BB) and Desire’ Sniatynski (UB).

?          A trio of Huskers earned All-Big 12 honors: Parsons (V, BB, FX), Sniatynski (UB) and junior Tricia Woo (BB).

?          The same three Huskers were named to the All-Big 12 Championship Team for their performances at the conference meet: Parsons (AA, V, BB), Sniatynski (AA, UB) and Woo (BB, FX).

?          Parsons was honored as the 2008 South Central Regional Gymnast of the Year, becoming the first Husker to win three regional gymnast-of-the-year awards.

?          Parsons became the first gymnast in school history to pass the 100-event titles mark, finishing with a career total of 114 event wins.

?          Sophomore Kathryn Howard was the only Husker named to the Academic All-Big 12 team, earning first-team honors.

?          Two Huskers were named Big 12 Gymnast of the Week at least once in 2008: Sniatynski (Jan. 15, Feb. 26) and Parsons (Jan. 29, March 18).

?          Woo was named Big 12 Event Specialist of the Week three times (Jan. 15, Feb. 5, Feb. 26).

?          Six gymnasts were named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Fall Honor Roll: Howard, Woo, senior Vanessa Meloche, redshirt freshman Molly Ohnoutka, sophomore Maria Scaffidi and freshman Stephanie Seich.