Spartan Gymnastics Hopes For Success In The South
3/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
March 1, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 23 Michigan State primes for tri-meet competition at #16 Kentucky, in which the Spartans will face the hosting Big Blue, along with #15 Central Michigan.
RECAPPING LAST WEEK... Michigan State gymnastics posted 194.025 in a victory over Pittsburgh, Bowling Green and James Madison at Pittsburgh on Saturday, Feb. 26.
Several Spartans enjoyed standout performances. Sophomore Chayla Hill led MSU on vault, registering 9.800 for the meet title. Hill also helped State with a team-high 9.800 performance on the floor. Junior Leia Langhoff (9.725) and sophomore Kristen Coleman (9.675) earned second and third places, respectively, for their vault efforts.
Sophomore Kristen Coleman gabbed the meet title on bars, posting 9.875. Junior tri-captain Sarah Alexander captured the meet title on the beam for her 9.875 performance. Sophomore Victoria Iakounina posted 9.750 on the beam, good for second place overall.
 Sophomore Kristen Coleman has been a key contributor to Spartan success this season. Most recently, she led her team with a 9.875 performance on the bars at Pittsburgh.  | |
UNDEFEATED STREAK SNAPPED... Dedicated fans watching the Spartans at Jenison Field House had the opportunity to watch MSU defeat its first five opponents of the season, without posting a defeat. Illinois managed to snap that streak with a Feb. 19 win over the Spartans.
PLAGUED BY INJURIES... At first glance, the 2005 Michigan State squad seemed as though it would be characterized by depth in 2005. The one senior on State's 2004 team, Lindsey Voth, did not compete due to injury throughout her last season as a Spartan, so MSU returned all of its active competitors from last year. In addition, five Spartan freshmen joined the team in 2005.
Still, State continues to lose talent to injury. Most recently, tri-captain Nicole June was forced to announce an early retirement from competitng, as she was medically disqualified. While losing talent makes it very difficult for State to remain competitive amongst healthy opponents, head coach Kathie Klages reiterated that the safety of her squad is of paramount importance. In fact, for the first time in Klage's 15-year tenure at MSU, she recently gave the Spartans two days off, so that they could rest.
"It was an unprecedented decision that I had to make in giving them two days off in a row," Klages said. "In competition, it is clear that we have not posted the necessary hours of training. We can really see where we need the extra work, but I've never had a squad with so many injuries and, above all, the well-being of the atheltes come first."
 Junior Sarah Alexander is one of several skilled Spartan gymnasts struggling with injuries in 2005. Despite the challenge, Alexander managed an impressive 9.875 performance on the bars at Pittsburgh. | |
SETTING THEIR SIGHTS HIGH... There is one feat in particular that MSU has yet to accomplish in head coach Kathie Klages' tenure; a trip to the NCAA National Championship. MSU came close last year and posted a fifth-place finish at NCAA Regionals against a tough slate of competition. The Spartans hope that this year's squad will make Green and White history by earning a bid to the Big Show in 2005.
IT'S NOT WHETHER YOU WIN OR LOSE... In gymnastics, any team's season record doesn't matter what it comes to earning a trip to the NCAA Regional Tournament. A team must post a strong regional qualfying score (RQS) in order to earn bid. Team totals from meets are averaged and compared against one another, in order to determine rank.
REGIONAL RANK... MSU competes in the Central Region, one of the toughest regions in the nation, which features nine total schools and includes the No. 1 team in the nation, LSU. Still, the Spartans have managed to make their mark among Central Region competitors. MSU ranks sixth in its region on vault (48.555 RQS), fifth on bars (48.635 RQS) and beam (48.435), while ranking sixth on the floor (48.810 RQS).
NATIONAL RANKINGS... Michigan State's performance at the Spartan Invitational propelled State to a No. 6 national ranking, after entering competition at No. 27. Since then, they have gradually slipped to No. 23, still an impressive spot. Only No. 3 Michigan is higher ranked than MSU in the Big Ten. Comprised of veteran gymnasts and energetic freshmen, the Spartan squad promises continued success throughout 2005.
A STRONG START... After breaking the all-time best school record for a team-total score not once, but twice (and in less than two weeks), in 2004, everyone knew that MSU would have to be inventive in order to continue to enjoy unprecedented success.
But in the Spartans' season-opening effort of 2005, they did just that. MSU claimed the Spartan Invitational meet title with wins over Denver, Ball State and the perennial powerhouse LSU squad, now ranked No. 1 in the nation. In its victory, MSU posted a record-breaking 195.475, the all-time high season-opening score in Green and White gymnastics history. MSU looks to transcend injuries and continue its success throughout the 2005 season.
REVAMPED JUDGING... After extensive meetings between coaches and members of National Association of Womens Gymnastics Judges, a serious overhaul of the way judges are selected for meets has taken place, beginning this season. The new system, which is not mandatory but happily embraced by MSU head coach Kathie Klages and staff, assigns judges to meets, rather than having coaches select them. The vision behind this change is one that hopes to:
· To eliminate bias;· To eliminate the intimidation factor;· To develop consistency in officiating across the country;· To control costs;· To discontinue selection of judges by coaches and meet sites and events by judges;· To create a system for impartial assignments for meets and events; and· To lay the groundwork for future development of an educational component.
MSU HEAD COACH Kathie Klages ON THE NEW SYSTEM... "I am very pleased to see the NCAA move to the national assigning system for women's gymnastics. I think that some judges around the nation feel an obligation to the home team when the coaching staff does the hiring. I believe assigning the judges through the national system will take the pressure off the judges to `score' for the team that hired them. I also believe that, in time, we can develop more consistency and create more credibility for our sport."
SPARTAN LEADERSHIP... Senior Anna Hunsinger and junior Sarah Alexander return as team captains in 2005, joined by senior Nicole (Anderson) June. All three are seasoned Spartan gymnasts and proven leaders, but hard work in the gym has led to serious injury for the trio. Of the three, only Sarah Alexander remains eligible to compete, as her fellow captains both medically disqualified. Even Alexander is still working toward full recovery from shoulder surgery.
 | "I am very pleased to see the NCAA move to the national assigning system for women's gymnastics. In time, we can develop more consistency and create more credibility for our sport." Michigan State head coach Kathie Klages |
HITTING THE 195 MARK... With the implementation of a new judging system, scores across the country are, on-average, lower than they have been in recent years. Still, MSU has worked to keep its team total up. The Spartans opened the season with an impressive 195.475 team total and have worked ever since to get back to the 195 mark. MSU successfully achieved that goal, posting 195.275 at the State of Michigan Classic, on Feb. 6, 2005. Next, MSU hopes to hit the 195 mark at Pittsburgh.
HEAD COACH Kathie Klages... Klages, named 2004 Big Ten co-coach of the year, has become a fixture in Spartan athletics over the course of her 14-year tenure at Michigan State. Entering her 15th season in 2005, Klages celebrates one of the most successful seasons in the history of her program and looks to extend last season's victories into another season of high scores and near-perfect performances.
 Sophomore Victoria Iakounina posted 9.775 on the bars at Pittsburgh, contributing to State's first-place finish at the quad-meet on Feb. 26. | |
MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS AT A GLANCE...
Season-High Team Score: 195.475
National Ranking: No. 23
2004 Record: 18-10-1
2004 Big Ten Finish: Fifth
Letterwinners returning/lost: 13/0
Newcomers: 5
Head coach Kathie Klages is 233-112-3 in 14 years at Michigan State.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION...
KENTUCKY
Season-High Team Score: 195.550
National Ranking: #16
Letterwinners returning/lost: 14/4
Newcomers: 7
Head coach Mo Muhammad is in his second year at Kentucky.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Season-High Team Score: 195.925
National Ranking: #15
Letterwinners returning/lost: 13/4
Newcomers: 5
Head coach Jerry Reighard is in his 21st year at CMU.
SPARTAN INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS
Junior Sarah Alexander... Recorded 9.875 on the bars and 9.800 on the floor at Pittsburgh (2/26)... Had 9.775 on both the beam and the floor against Illinois (2/19)... Recorded 9.725 on the vault at the Fox Run Invite (2/12)... Had 9.850 on the floor and 9.825 on the beam at the State of Michigan Classic (2/6)... Posted 9.850 on the beam against Northern Illinois (1/30)... Registered 9.875 on the beam against Ohio State (1/22)... Recorded 9.775 on both floor and beam at Arizona (1/14)... Beam score of 9.775 good for third of four schools at Arizona (1/14)... Named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week for the first time in her career (1/10)... Captured the meet title for her all-around performance (39.150) at the Spartan Invitational (1/7)... Recorded 9.825 on the floor at the Spartan Invitational (1/7).
Sophomore Kristen Coleman... Had 9.675 on the vault and 9.875 on bars at Pittsburgh (2/26)... Recorded 9.700 on the vault against Illinois (2/19)... Had 9.625 on both the vault and floor at the Fox Run Invite (2/12)... Recorded an all-around score of 38.775 at the State of Michigan Classic (2/6)... Posted 9.850 on the vault and 9.825 on the bars at the State of Michigan Classic (2/6)... Had 9.700 on the vault and 9.775 on the floor against Northern Illinois (1/30)... Had 9.825 on the bars against Ohio State (1/22)... Recorded 9.800 on the beam against OSU (1/22)... Captured the meet title for her all-around performance at Arizona (1/14)... Registered 9.750 on the floor at Arizona (1/14)... Recorded 9.800 on the vault at the Spartan Invitational (1/7).
 Sophomore Chayla Hill has established herself as one of the most talented and consistent performers on the 2005 Spartan squad. | |
Sophomore Chayla Hill... Had a solid performance at Pittsburgh (2/26), posting 9.800 on both vault and floor... Posted 9.850 on the floor against Illinois (2/19)... Had 9.825 on the floor at the State of Michigan Classic (2/6)... Registered 9.800 on the vault and 9.850 on the floor against Northern Illinois (1/30)... Recorded 9.850 on the vault and 9.875 on the floor against Ohio State (1/22)... Had 9.800 on the floor at Arizona (/14)... Earned 9.825 on the vault at the Spartan Invitational (1/7).
Sophomore Victoria Iakounina... Posted 9.775 on the bars and 9.750 on the beam at Pittsburgh (2/26)... Had 9.700 on the vault and 9.650 on the bars against Illinois (2/19)... Recorded 9.600 on the vault and 9.575 on the bars at the Fox Run Invite (2/12)... Posted 9.750 on both the vault and bars at the State of Michigan Classic (2/6).
Senior Nicole June... Medically disqualified in mid-Febraury due to injury... Posted 9.825 on the floor at the State of Michigan Classic (2/6)... Had 9.825 on the floor against Northern Illinois (1/30)... Posted 9.850 on the floor against Ohio State (1/22)... Recorded 9.825 on the floor, a meet-best for the Spartans, at Arizona (1/14)... Posted 9.825 on the floor at the Spartan Invitational (1/7).
Junior Julianna Karall... Posted 9.525 on the floor at Pittsburgh (2/26)... Recorded 9.725 on the floor against Illinois (2/19)... Registered 9.700 on the beam and 9.550 on the floor at the Fox Run Invite (2/12)... Had 9.650 on the beam at the State of Michigan Classic (2/6)... Had 9.700 on the beam against Northern Illinois (1/30)... Recorded 9.700 on the floor against Ohio State (1/22).
Junior Leia Langhoff... Recorded 9.725 on both vault and bars at Pittsburgh (2/26)... Had 9.700 on the vault, 9.600 on the bars and 9.650 on the beam against Illinois (2/19)... Recorded 8.700 on the vault, 9.725 on the bars and 9.750 on the beam at the Fox Run Invite (2/12)... Posted 9.775 on the vault and 9.725 on the bars at the State of Michigan Classic (2/6)... Recorded 9.725 on the bars against Ohio State (1/22)... Registered 9.625 on the vault at Arizona (1/14).
Freshman Bethany Little... Suffered a mid-season injury that has limited her action... Posted 9.750 on the vault against Northern Illinois (1/30)... Had 9.800 on the bars against Ohio State (1/22)... Recorded 9.850 on vault to tie for the meet title in that event at Arizona (1/14)... Posted 9.800 on the vault in her collegiate debut (1/7).
Senior Kristin Merritt... Recorded 9.700 on the bars against Illinois (2/19)... Posted 9.750 on the bars at the Fox Run Invite (2/12)... Had 9.725 on both the bars and floor against Northern Illinois (1/30)... Recorded 9.725 on the bars against Ohio State (1/22)... Posted 9.650 on beam at Arizona (1/14)... Had 9.775 on bars at the Spartan invitational (1/7).
 Senior Kristin Merritt enjoys consistent success on the bars. | |
Junior Jaime Miles... Recorded 9.875 on beam at the Spartan Invitational (1/7).
Sophomore Jenna Rivers... Had 9.725 on the floor at the State of Michigan Classic (2/6)... Posted 9.600 on the vault against Northern Illinois (1/30)... Had 9.125 on the floor against Ohio State (1/22)... Had 9.625 on the floor at the Spartan Invitational (1/7).
Senior Lauren Simpson... Registered 9.725 on the beam and 9.625 on the floor at Pittsburgh (2/26)... Had 9.775 on the floor against Illinois (2/19)... Posted 9.650 on the beam at the Fox Run Invite (2/12)... Registered 9.800 on both the bars and beam at the State of Michigan Classic (2/6)... Had 9.750 on the bars against Northern Illinois (1/30)... Recorded 9.775 on the bars against Ohio State (1/22)... Had 9.675 on bars, good for second place of four teams at Arizona (1/14)... Posted 9.825 on the beam at the Spartan Invitational (1/7).
 Senior Lauren Simpson brings years of experience and a serious work ethic to the Spartan squad. | |
Senior Jennifer Yarbrough... Recorded 9.725 on the bars and 9.625 on the floor at Pittsburgh (2/26)... Enjoyed a 9.825 floor performance against Illinois (2/19)...Had 9.650 on the floor and beam, as well as 9.675 on the bars, at the Fox Run Invite (2/12)... Posted 9.825 on the bars and 9.800 on the floor at the State of Michigan Classic (2/6)... Had 38.175 in the all-around at LSU (1/28)... Posted 9.700 on the bars against Northern Illinois (1/30)... Recorded 9.800 on the bars againts Ohio State (1/22)... Posted 9.750 on the floor at Arizona (1/14)... Recorded 9.775 and 9.750 on the beam and floor, respectively, at the Spartan Invitational (1/7).
Players Mentioned
