Riding the wave. After flipping its third score of more than 190 points, Seattle Pacific University is riding a crest of confidence going into this week's dual gymnastics meet with fellow Mountain Pacific Sports Federation member Sacramento State. Seeking their fourth straight dual victory, the Falcons (4-8) face the Hornets Friday night (Mar. 14) in the California capital. SPU, rated No. 6 among USA Gymnastics (Division II) teams, goes across town to Washington Mar. 21 before returning home for its final home meet of the season, Mar. 22 against Cal State Fullerton and Alaska Anchorage.

Even more momentum. Just past the midway mark of the season, the Falcons have rebounded from a relatively rough start and have mounted some momentum which will hopefully continue to build toward nationals next month. In the last five meets, the Seattle Pacific has picked up four wins and has scored above the 190-point plateau three times. At Sacramento, the Falcons' three-meet dual win streak will be on the line. SPU defeated the Hornets at home Mar. 1 by nearly two full points, 192.075 to 190.125. The three straight dual meet wins matches the longest streak in 20 years and Sac State is the only Div. I victim this season.

Count on vault. All season long, Coach Laurel Tindall has praised her athletes' ability to pull off difficult stunts on vault. Last week at Oregon State, Tindall shuffled the lineup and, in doing so, watched her team score a season-high (48.000). Each of Tindall's six vaulters scored over 9.500, the top mark coming in at a 9.650 via all-arounder Corrie McDaniel (So., Lawrence, Ks.). Seattle Pacific notched solid apparatus scores on bars (47.925) and floor exercise as well (47.950) but literally fell off the balance beam, scoring a season-low 46.750.

Top finishers. Continuing to establish herself as the team's queen of the uneven bars, Melissa Stanton (Jr., Rapid City, SD/Central-Hamline) was not intimidated by heady competition nor the crowd of some 4,000 spectators at storied Gill Coliseum. Stanton now ranks No. 1 on the USA Gymnastics national list following a 9.775 last week. It was her sixth mark of 9.700 or higher in eight meets. She finished seventh on bars in Corvallis with OSU's Elizabeth Jillson, Tanya Ricioli and Denver's Michelle Kasuga finishing in a three-way tie for first. Ricioli literally dominated the entire meet, posting three individual apparatus wins, all with a final score of 9.800 or better, and a gold plated finish in the all-around (39.575). McDaniel finished fifth at 37.200.

Bright spots. Although three gymnasts fell off beam, Kristen Strid (Sr., Kingsburg, Ca./Kingsburg Joint Union) remained steadfast and managed to pull a 9.675 off for an eighth-place final finish. Oregon State negotiated the six-inch wide walkway effectively, sweeping the top five places. Ricioli won easily with a 9.950. Annastasia Ahr (Jr., San Antonio, Tx.) scored a solid 9.575 on beam and danced a 9.625 on floor exercise while teammate Rachael Anderson (Sr., Yakima, Wa./West Valley) performed a team high 9.650 on the mats. The Beavers won the four top spots on floor.

Gym shorts. The Falcons, who have had trouble on floor, did not place an athlete in the top 12 spots on floor exercise at OSU although four of six competitors earned a 9.600 or higher...On the USAG individual leader board, McDaniel is fifth in the all-around and Strid is No. 6 on beam. Anderson ranks seventh on floor exercise...As a team, the Falcons are third on vault, bars and fourth on beam...Stanton is third on bars in the MPSF...Jennifer Christman (Jr., Fairfield, Ca./Benicia) vaulted a 9.500 and swung a 9.200 on the unevens...Kari Kelly (Fr., Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower scored a 9.600 on each of her three events: vault, bars and floor exercise. The floor mark was a career-high...Elisabeth Kingsley (So., Kennesaw, Ga./Harrison) flipped a 9.475 on floor exercise, just .125 off her season high...Cindy Reed (Fr., Antioch, Ca./Deer Valley) performed above 9.500 on two of three of her events, including a career-high 9.550 on vault and a 9.525 on beam, matching a career-high...Courtney Amonsen (Sr., Redmond, Wa./Inglemoor) scored a 9.150 on the beam...Jaynie Reynolds (Fr., White Rock, BC/South Delta), the injured Anna Leiferman (Fr., Thornton, Co./Horizon) and Julie Evin (Fr., Vancouver, Wa./Mountain View) did not compete. Leiferman and Evin will likely miss the remainder of the season.

Tickets, please. General admission tickets for all SPU home gymnastics meets are priced $5 with students, youth and senior citizens $3 with proper identification. Teams or groups can qualify for discount rates by call (206) 281-2085 in advance.

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 27 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 third season as an assistant coach. Siwek was a two-time All-America and a member of the 1997 national championship team. Alison Siegel-McAfee joins the staff after having completed her career in 2002 as a four-time All-America and school record-holder in vault, beam and all-around.

Missing links. For the latest and best information on Seattle Pacific University athletics, stay where you're at -- on The Falcons Online. For updated standings and statistics, see the Great Northwest Athletic Conference web site.