Opportunity knocks. Recovering from the dizzying effects of being out-tumbled by three Division I teams, the Seattle Pacific University gymnastics team has an opportunity to face two rivals which compete at the same national level. The Falcons (0-5) are aiming for their first win of the season when they visit the scene of their first national championship victory, Colorado Springs, Saturday night (Feb. 5) for a triangular meet involving defending USA Gymnastics collegiate champion Centenary (1-3) and host Air Force (1-2). SPU returns home to host Oregon State Feb. 12.

Deja vu? For the second week in a row, SPU is No. 1 in the USAG statistical rankings and once again tops the uneven bar competition. Centenary is No. 3 and Air Force No. 5. Still, the Falcons find themselves in the same predicament as last season, holding a high ranking and displaying an improved three-meet average, yet with no victories to show for it. However, if this season continues to mirror ‘04, there is good news ahead. Last season’s first win came in the fourth meet of the season.

Missing you. Seattle Pacific will be without its head coach for this weekend’s trip to the Rockies. Laurel Tindall is being inducted into the Falcon Legends Hall of Fame during a Friday luncheon and the Class of 2005 will be introduced to the crowd at the homecoming basketball game the following day in Brougham Pavilion. Tindall was a member of the inaugural gymnastics team which finished fifth in an AIAW Championship field dominated by Division I powers. Competing for two years, she won a national vault title in 1975 and was a six-time All-American before taking over the coaching reins in 1976. Assistant coach Kathy Siwek will take charge of the squad this weekend. Tindall has missed only two meets during her 30-year tenure.

Little by little. With each meet, the Falcons have improved their overall score. A new season high of 191.025 last week at Washington was facilitated by a strong finish on floor exercise (48.475). Nationally, SPU moved up to No. 3 on floor, and it is No. 4 on beam and vault. Debra Huss (So., Orangevale, Ca.) was the lone Falcon to earn a spot on the awards podium, tying for third on floor with a 9.825. Huss is once again ranked No. 1 in the USAG for floor and is third on beam. Her fourth-place 38.475 all-around score bumped her up to No. 2 nationally.

Improvements. The lack of top-three finishes is deceiving because several gymnasts continue to strengthen their performance. For example, Kristin Bryant (So., Anchorage, Ak./West Anchorage) has improved her season highs in each event, and her 9.650 vault score was a team best. On floor exercise Bryant and Corrie McDaniel (Sr., Lawrence, Ks./Lawrence) danced 9.700 and 9.750, respectively, to follow Huss’ bronze finish and contribute to the team’s best event performance. Huss has also improved her scores over the past three meets, posting personal bests on vault (9.450) and bars (9.675). Jaynie Reynolds (Jr., White Rock, B.C./Marriot) recovered from last week’s uncharacteristically low beam score to post a career-high 9.675. Reynolds also launched a 9.575 on vault and swung a 9.600 on bars to keep her at No. 2 for the event.

Gym shorts. Tindall joins Debbie Halle (Jackson), another inaugural team member and national champion (bars, 1974), as members of the Falcon Legends Hall of Fame charter group...Seattle Pacific won its first national title when Air Force hosted the 1986 NCAA Championships...Tindall’s only other absences for meets were in 1990 and ‘97...Trailing SPU in the USAG scoring average table are, in order, Alaska Anchorage, Centenary, Rutgers and Air Force...Kari Kelly (Sr., Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower), who hasn’t scored below a 9.600 on vault this season, launched a 9.625 to hold the No. 3 position in the USAG...Kelly also swung a 9.000 on bars and danced a 9.500 on floor...Sarah Sullivan (So., Salem, Or./Sprague) finished with 37.875 in the all-around, with a 9.600 on vault, 9.400 on bars, 9.225 on beam, and 9.650 on floor...Sullivan is ranked eighth on bars and vault...Huss also finished with a 9.525 on beam to put her at No. 3 in the rankings... Elisabeth Kingsley (Sr., Kennesaw, Ga./Harrison) launched a 9.425 on vault and danced a 9.550 on floor exercise...In addition to her vault and floor scores, Bryant negotiated a 9.450 on beam...McDaniel, whose most recent scores show upward progress, also posted a 9.250 on beam...Ashley Domres (Fr., Phoenix, Az./Scottsdale Christian) swung a season-high 9.375 on bars and negotiated a 9.200 on beam...Christie Chinaka (Fr., Honolulu, Hi.) scored 9.475 on bars.

Tickets, Please. General admission tickets for all SPU women’s gymnastics meets are priced $5, with students, youth and senior citizens $3 with proper identification. Teams can qualify for special discount rates by calling (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 30 years. Under her guidance, SPU has won three national championships and, individually, her gymnasts have taken 15 titles. Four times Tindall has been honored as national coach of the year. Kathy Siwek returns for her fifth season as an assistant coach. Siwek was a two-time All-America and a member of the 1997 national championship team. Kristen Strid is back for her second year on the staff after having completing her career in 2003 as a three-time All-America and national champion on bars.

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 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation web site at www.mpsports.org, or the Collegiate Gymnastics Information Center at www.troester.com/gym. .