This week...
Sat., Feb. 24, 1 p.m. -- GYMNASTICS v SACRAMENTO STATE, Brougham Pavilion, Seattle, Wa.

Complete Women's Gymnastics Schedule

A Saturday matinee...
After proving that the previous week's three-point scoring dip was indeed just a fluke, the Seattle Pacific University gymnastics team returns home this week to begin a three-meet homestand. The Falcons (4-6), looking for their first home victory, face a tough task Saturday afternoon (Feb. 24) when they host Sacramento State (6-1). The final two home meets are Feb. 28 versus Western Michigan and Mar. 2 with UC Davis.

Ticket information...
General admission tickets for all home gymnastics meets are priced $5, with students and senior citizens $3. Team and group rates are available by calling (206) 281-2085 in advance.

Back to reality...
Despite some stellar competition, Seattle Pacific posted its third score in excess of 191 points in the last four meets at Boise last week. The Falcons, with a score of 191.450, improved by 3.20 over their last meet and raised their season average to 189.460--more than two points higher than at the same point a year ago. SPU is currently ranked No. 3 among USA Gymnastics (Division II) teams, and appears well on its way to making a national meet appearance for the 18th consecutive year. The USAG Collegiate Championships are Apr. 12-14 in Davis, Ca.

Beat the ones that count...
Although Coach Laurel Tindall's (26th year) squad finished third out of four teams at Boise, she wasn't at all disappointed with the team's performance. After all, Boise State and Cal State Fullerton are two of the stronger Division I programs in the West. The Broncos won the meet with 195.450 points and the Titans were a close runner-up with 194.225. SPU effectively demonstrated its dominance over fellow Western Independents conference member UC Santa Barbara, with the Gauchos fourth with a 189.500.

Carey scores career high...
From a Seattle Pacific perspective, the Boise meet seemed to have Kim Carey's (Sr., Everett, Wa./Mariner) name stamped all over it. Carey began the meet with a career performance on floor exercise, scoring a 9.800. Although it was not enough to get Carey to the awards podium at night's end, it was the highest score at the meet by a Falcon. Carey also posted a 9.650 on the uneven bars, second to only to Cassie Althauser's (Sr., Centralia, Wa.) 9.700. Althauser's bar score was a season-best. One rotation later, Althauser led the way on the balance beam as well, scoring a 9.650.

Did'ya see a Siegel fly by?...
Not only does she have a catchy last name, Alison Siegel (Jr., Oakland, Ca./Redwood) is a gymnast to be reckoned with in 2001. After being noticeably absent from individual finals at last year's national meet after finishing runner-up on both balance beam and in the all-around competition as a freshman, Siegel is finally ready to fly after suffering a rotator cuff injury during preseason. Siegel rushed the vault and sprung off the apparatus for a team-high 9.725. She scored a 9.575 on the uneven bars and a 9.750 on floor exercise and, if it weren't for a wobbly beam routine, surely would have found herself among the meet's top three all-arounders. Siegel finished with a four-event total of 38.375. Boise's Jamie Johns won the all-around with a 39.325.

They continue to be solid...
Kristen Strid (So., Kingsburg, Ca./Kingsburg Joint Union) continued to impress coaches and competitors alike at Boise, finishing the all-around with a 37.800. Strid rallied for a 9.625 on floor exercise and a 9.475 on bars. Erin Kawasaki (Sr., Seattle, Wa./Kennedy), after going all-around the first five meets, dropped the beam and floor last week to provide some relief for a sore back. She swung a 9.650 on the uneven bars and vaulted a 9.550. Kawasaki had been an all-arounder for Tindall in the first five meets. Vault specialist Jennifer Christman (Fr., Fairfield, Ca./Benicia, Ca.) launched off a solid 9.675 on that event and twirled the bars for a 9.325.

They've got their health ...
Tindall noted that the Falcons are as healthy now as they've been since the start of preseason training. Siegel's shoulder is recovered while Kawasaki could resume all-around if needed. In addition, Anastasia Ahr (Fr., Chelan, Wa./Blessed Hope) saw her first action at Boise, as did Courtney Amonsen (So., Redmond, Wa./Inglemoor). Ahr missed five meets while recovering from a back injury and Stump was out with a sore heel. Missy McLaughlin (Jr., Federal Way, Wa./Decatur), who was the only athlete held out last week, is experiencing soreness in her leg.

Series, opponents notes...
Saturday's dual will be the second meeting with Sacramento State this season. SPU leads the series 22-14, but lost to the Hornets on the road Feb. 9, 191.375-188.250. In fact, Sac State has finished higher in the last 10 common meets over two seasons.

National rankings...
Seattle Pacific remains No. 3 in the USAG rankings, behind Air Force (average score of 192.205) and defending champion Texas Woman's (190.679). UC Davis (188.715) is No. 4...Individually, Siegel still owns the nation's highest score on beam (9.925) and ranks No. 5 in vault average (9.535). Kawasaki is No. 6 in bars average (9.650) and Strid is No. 7 in all-around (37.705).

Gym shorts...
The Falcons scored a 48.050 on both vault and bars and a 48.550 on floor exercise at Boise, but the balance beam was, as it has been traditionally, their nemesis. However, along with Althauser's endeavors, Courtney Stump (Jr., Poulsbo, Wa./Charles Wright) posted a second-best 9.525, and tumbled the floor exercise for a near-career-best 9.700...In just her third week in the floor exercise lineup and her third week back in competition in general after suffering a torn ACL at last year's outset, Rachael Anderson (Fr., Yakima, Wa./West Valley) danced a 9.675 to start the Birds off on floor...Ahr made her collegiate debut last week, scoring a 8.90 on balance beam and 9.375 on floor...Amonsen scored 9.050 on beam.

S-P-U on the W-E-B...
You can follow Seattle Pacific via the world wide web. The Falcons Online features weekly release, rosters, schedules, updated results, histories and coaching profiles for all 12 varsity sports. You're already here!

Personnel notes...
Name Yr/Exp. Hometown Notes
Anastasia Ahr Fr/C1 Chelan, Wa. Made rookie appearance at Boise
Cassie Althauser Sr/3V Centralia, Wa. Career high on balance beam vs. San Jose
Courtney Amonsen So/1V Redmond, Wa. Performed exhibition routines in last two meets
Rachael Anderson Fr/RS Yakima, Wa. Career-high 9.675 on floor vs. San Jose
Kim Carey Sr/3V Everett, Wa. Career high on floor at Boise
Jennifer Christman Fr/C1 Benicia, Ca. Won vault first two meets against Anchorage
Erin Kawasaki Sr/2V Seattle, Wa. Career-high on bars against San Jose.
Missy McLaughlin Jr/2V Federal Way, Wa. Career high vault and bars scores vs. San Jose
Ai Nakayama Fr/C1 Bellevue, Wa. Scored career-high on beam against San Jose
Alison Siegel Jr/2V Oakland, Ca. School record owner on balance beam (9.925)
Kristen Strid So/1V Kingsburg, Ca. Tied No. 5 all-time mark in all-around vs. San Jose
Courtney Stump Jr/2V Poulsbo, Wa. Career high on floor against San Jose
Amber Weddell Fr/C1 Stockton, Ca. Graduated from Lincoln High School
Coach: Laurel Tindall (25 years, SPU record 317-279-1)

Women's Gymnastics Roster

2001 high scores...
Name Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around
Anastasia Ahr dnc dnc 8.900 9.375 dnc
Cassie Althauser dnc 9.700 9.775 9.525 dnc
Courtney Amonsen dnc dnc 9.050 dnc dnc
Rachael Anderson dnc dnc dnc 9.675 dnc
Kim Carey 9.575 9.675 dnc 9.800 dnc
Jennifer Christman 9.700 9.350 9.525 9.400 36.675
Erin Kawasaki 9.575 9.825 9.800 9.525 38.375
Missy McLaughlin 9.500 9.400 7.850 dnc dnc
Ai Nakayama dnc dnc 9.550 dnc dnc
Alison Siegel 9.800 8.950 *9.925 9.750 38.375
Kristen Strid 9.350 9.725 9.800 9.800 38.675
Courtney Stump 9.225e dnc 9.050 9.750 dnc
Amber Weddell dnc dnc dnc dnc dnc
TEAM 48.050 48.100 48.075 48.550 191.875
Boldface indicates career-high *School record (e exhibition)