Consistent, for sure. Maybe it didn't reach the top, but the Seattle Pacific University gymnastics team certainly was a model for consistency in 2002. The Falcons finished their season Apr. 13 in Springfield, Mass., by taking fourth place at the USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championships. For SPU, it extended a string of scores in excess of 191 points to 11 meets while it was the 20th straight top-four national placement under Coach Laurel Tindall.

National wrap. As it turned out, it was the Falcons of Air Force who claimed the national crown for the second year in a row. Air Force, with a score of 194.175, finished a comfortable 1.2 points ahead of Texas Woman's (192.950), while UC Davis (192.800) and Seattle Pacific (192.200) were close behind. During prelims, SPU edged Centenary by 0.4 points for the fourth and final spot in the finals. The Falcons have finished fourth or higher each season since 1983, including titles in 1986, 1992 and 1997.

All-America girls. The list of Seattle Pacific's All-America gymnasts continued to grow while it just missed getting its 16th individual champion. Alison Siegel-McAfee (Sr., Oakland, Ca./Redwood Christian) completed her distinguished career by taking second place on vault. Siegel-McAfee, who had scored a season-best 9.800 during prelims, was runner-up to Air Force's Jenn Dougherty in the finals by 0.05 points with a 9.750. Joining Siegel-McAfee as an All-America were Corrie McDaniel (Fr., Lawrence, Ks./Lawrence) and Kristen Strid (Jr., Kingsburg, Ca./Kingsburg Joint Union). McDaniel placed fifth in the all-around competition, after posting scores of 9.50 and higher on each event. Her four-event total of 38.600 was just 0.275 points behind co-champions Dougherty and Kim Broughton of Air Force. Strid, the team's most steady beam performer all season, also took fifth. Her score of 9.525 tied her with Kaela Meinert of Centenary. Allison Todd of Air Force and Stacy Wong of UC Davis tied for first with scores of 9.775.

Nearly made it. All along this season, Tindall knew the Falcons were walking a tightrope with regard to injuries. A thin squad left precious little margin. At nationals, the luck ran out. Elisabeth Kingsley (Fr., Kennesaw, Ga./Harrison) suffered a knee injury on the first event, floor, and was unable to compete the rest of the championships. As it turned out, the Falcons got five other strong efforts on floor and finished with a near-season best of 48.750. Siegel-McAfee and McDaniel each notched scores of 9.850­each just missing the cut for finals­while Annastasia Ahr (So., San Antonio, Tx./Blessed Hope Academy) contributed a 9.775. However, Kingsley's injury was profoundly felt in vault, where the team scored just 47.600 in prelims and 47.650 in finals.

Final four. Despite a solid night on bars, Seattle Pacific was unable to mount a serious run at Air Force in team finals. All five counting scores on bars were 9.500 or above, including a 9.700 by McDaniel and a 9.675 by Jennifer Christman (So., Fairfield, Ca./Benicia). The team total of 48.100 was No. 3 for the season. On beam, Siegel-McAfee sought redemption for a first-night fall. She found that and more as she posted a score of 9.850, matching her best of the season. The Falcons' highest scoring event of the night was floor, where each of the counting scores was at or above the 9.700 mark. Their total of 48.800 was one of the highest of the season. Siegel-McAfee and McDaniel led the team, as they finished with a 9.875 and 9.800, respectively.

Rebuilding begins. Seattle Pacific has already begun addressing its needs for the 2003 season. Cynthia Reed of Antioch, Ca., became the first recruit to sign a national letter of intent. Reed is a Level 10 gymnast from the Golden Bear club in Berkeley which produced Siegel-McAfee. Reed won a USAIGC national all-around title at Level 9 and was seventh nationally in the USAG meet. Julie Evin (Fr., Vancouver, Wa./Mountain View), one of last year's top recruits, should be available after recovering from a back injury. A herniated lumbar disc was surgically repaired this winter. Tindall loses three seniors­Siegel-McAfee, Courtney Stump (Sr., Poulsbo, Wa./Charles Wright) and Missy McLaughlin (Sr., Federal Way, Wa./Decatur)­to graduation. Stump was a fixture on beam and floor during her career. McLaughlin, a vault All-America as a junior, missed almost the entire season through injuries.

For the record. The only school record to fall this past season was the team mark for floor exercise. The new standard of 48.925 was set Feb. 22 vs. Sacramento State and erased a 6-year-old record. Three of the all-time top 10 team scores were established, including the season-best of 192.900 at UC Davis, which ranks No. 2. Individually, there were a few near-records. Siegel-McAfee almost toppled her own all-around record; her 39.050 coming in at No. 2. McDaniel's floor score of 9.925 stands No. 2 to Callie Field's 2000 mark of 9.950. Siegel-McAfee's 9.900 this season is No. 3.

Gym shorts. With Kingsley out, Kari Kelly (Fr., Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower) was pressed into action on floor. Kelly had not competed in that event during the regular season, but Tindall was pleased with her impromptu performance and steady wits...Kingsley tore the medial collateral ligament in her right knee but is expected to recover fully...SPU and Alaska Anchorage will likely accept invitations to join the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation for gymnastics next season. Current MPSF members are Air Force, UC Davis, Sacramento State and UC Santa Barbara...The tentative 2003 schedule features home meets with San Jose State, Sac State, UC Davis, Washington (the first since 1999) and Alaska Anchorage.

SPU Coaches. Coach Laurel Tindall is a veteran of the sport and is synonymous with the university. Originally, she competed for the Falcons, then replaced her mentor, George Lewis, immediately following graduation. Subsequently, she has served in her position for 26 years. Under her guidance, SPU has won three national championships and, individually, her gymnasts have taken 15 titles. Three times Tindall has been honored as national coach of the year. Kathy Siwek returns for her second season as an assistant coach. Siwek was a two-time All-America and a member of the 1997 national championship team.