Michigan State Gymnastics Announces Exciting 2005 Schedule
9/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Sept. 14, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Following an immensely successful 2004 season and a rejuvenating summer for the Michigan State gymnastics team, MSU prepares to embark on another year of challenging and rewarding competition.
The Spartans closed out 2004 with a fifth-place finish at the Central Regional Championship in Baton Rouge, La. MSU enjoyed a season of unprecedented success, both collectively and individually, throughout 2004. State shattered its all-time university team score total, not once, but twice and established 197.075 as its new all-time high.
Looking to match and surpass its recent accomplishment, MSU returns all but one letterwinner from last season. Lindsey Voth, the only graduate who departed after 2004, was unable to compete throughout the season, due to an injury.
"One of our greatest strengths this season will lie in our team's experience," said MSU head coach Kathie Klages. "We have all of our active members from last year returning. We have really improved, with regard to performance consistency. With the addition of a strong freshman class, I believe that we are going to greatly improve our team's standings, regionally and nationally."
State will first take the floor for the Green and White exhibition contest on Dec. 18 at 1 p.m.
After that, MSU starts its regular season on Jan. 7, to host Denver, Ball State and Louisiana State at 8 p.m. LSU promises to be one of MSU's most challenging opponents, as the Tigers captured the 2004 Regional Championship and went on to finish seventh at the NCAA Championship.
"I am really excited about our schedule this year," said Klages, who enters her 15th season at the helm of Green and White gymnastics. "We are competing against quite a few top-ranked teams in the country. We open up with Denver and LSU, two notorious programs that rank in the top-12 and top-15, respectively."
The following week, the Spartans head to Arizona to face the Wildcats, as well as Missouri and Illinois Chicago on Jan. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
On Jan. 22, MSU returns to East Lansing to host Ohio State for a 2 p.m. meet. State faces LSU again on Jan. 28 for a 7 p.m. meet in Tiger home territory.
MSU will host Northern Illinois at 4 p.m. on Jan. 30 before leaving for two road contests. On Feb. 6, the Spartans travel to Western Michigan for the Michigan Classic, set for 1 p.m. On Feb. 12, MSU will compete in the Fox Run Invitational, which takes place at the University of New Hampshire at 7 p.m. State will also face Michigan and Northern Illinois at the Fox Run Invite.
The Spartans will host the University of Illinois at home on Feb. 19 in a 2 p.m. meet, before three straight weeks of traveling. MSU heads to Pittsburgh for a Feb. 26 contest, scheduled for 7 p.m.
After that, MSU will travel to Kentucky to face the Wildcats, along with George Washington, on March 4 at 7 p.m. Two days later, the Spartans go to West Virginia for a March 6 contest, the time for which has yet to be determined.
State will close out its regular season with two home meets in mid-March. On March 12, Illinois State heads to East Lansing for a 2 p.m. matchup. Then, on March 18, the Spartans welcome Michigan's Wolverines for a 7 p.m. contest.
MSU will meet U-M four times throughout the season, a rivalry that is sure to add a heightened level of competition to the 2005 season.
"We are thrilled about the opportunity to face off against Michigan throughout the season," said Klages. "U-M will be at the Michigan Classic, the Fox Run Invitational, in East Lansing and at Big Tens."
The 2005 Big Ten Championship will be hosted by Iowa and is set for 6 p.m. on March 26.
NCAA Regionals are scheduled for April 9, the locations for which have yet to be determined. Nationals will take place April 21- April 23 at Auburn.
DATE | EVENT | LOCATION | TIME |
| December 18 | Green & White Exhibition | East Lansing, Mich. | 1:00 p.m. |
| January 7 | Denver/Ball State/LSU | East Lansing, Mich. | 8:00 p.m. |
| January 14 | @ Arizona w/ Missouri | Tuscon, Ariz. | 7:30 p.m. |
| and Illinois Chicago | 7:30 p.m. | ||
| January 22 | Ohio State | East Lansing, Mich. | 2:00 p.m. |
| January 28 | LSU | Baton Rouge, La. | 7:30 p.m. |
| January 30 | Northern Illinois | East Lansing, Mich, | 4:00 p.m. |
| February 6 | Michigan Classic | Mt. Pleasant, Mich. | 1 p.m. |
| February 12 | Fox Run Invitational | Durham, New Hampshire | 7 p.m. |
| February 19 | University of Illinois | East Lansing, Mich. | 2:00 p.m. |
| February 26 | Pittsburgh w/ Bowling Green | Pittsburgh, Pa. | 7:00 p.m. |
| March 4 | Kentucky w/ CMU | Lexington, Ky. | 7:30 p.m. |
| March 6 | West Virginia, w/ Auburn | Morgantown, W.V. | TBA |
| March 12 | Illinois State and UIC | East Lansing, Mich. | 2:00 p.m. |
| March 18 | Michigan | East Lansing, Mich. | 7 p.m. |
| March 26 | Big Ten Championship | Iowa City, Iowa | 6:00 p.m. |
| April 9 | NCAA Regionals | TBA | TBA |
| April 21-23 | NCAA Nationals | TBA | TBA |
