Going for it. Full of momentum, including a near-school record, late-season performance, the Seattle Pacific University gymnastics team possesses the potential to put together a big score as it seeks the school’s fourth national title when it arrives in Ithaca, N.Y., for the USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championships. Competition begins next Thursday (Apr. 14) and continues through Saturday (Apr. 16). The Falcons (4-15) are seeded No. 4 and feature several gymnasts capable of winning individual titles during the meet, which serves as the Division II championship. Rounding out the eight-team field are defending champion Centenary (La.), Texas Woman’s, Rutgers, UC Davis, Alaska Anchorage, Air Force and host Cornell.

One day at a time. The formula for success at nationals is to take each event and each day one step at a time. Day One determines the four teams which advance to Friday’s finals. In addition to the individual all-around title, the berths for Saturday’s individual event finals (top eight, plus ties) are also decided. Day Two is all about the team championship. The meet concludes on Day Three with event finals for both women and men, who hold their championship in conjunction. The Falcons drew an opening night rotation of bars, beam, floor and vault, an identical draw to 2004, when Seattle Pacific finished seventh. SPU won the NCAA crown in 1986 and USAG titles in 1992 and 1997.

Huss goes West. While the rest of the squad is idle, Debra Huss (So., Orangevale, Ca.) will be busy Saturday night (Apr. 9) at the NCAA West Regional, hosted by the University of Washington. Huss earned one of five at-large all-around berths and will rotate with Central Michigan. She ranked 11th among all-arounders in the West and set an SPU record in her final home meet with an aggregate score of 39.225. Huss was first team all-Mount Pacific Sports Federation on bars, beam, floor and all-around. The last all-arounder to qualify for the NCAA regional was Corrie McDaniel (Sr., Lawrence, Ks.) in 2003.

Pedigree of champions. Coach Laurell Tindall will have the luxury of being able to put together some formidable lineups at nationals, as Jaynie Reynolds (Jr., White Rock, B.C./South Delta) plans to return to the vault for the first time in two months after sufficiently recovering from ankle injuries. Tindall hopes to take the team back into the top four. Last year Seattle Pacific’s string of 20 straight top-four finishes was snapped. Individually, the Falcons were solid as Reynolds, Debra Huss (So., Orangevale, Ca.), Sarah Sullivan (So., Salem, Or./Sprague) and Kari Kelly (Sr., Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower) each earned All-America hardware. Reynolds’ awards came on bars and beam while Huss and Kelly finished among the nation’s best on floor exercise. Sullivan vaulted her way to All-America. McDaniel, who missed last season’s national meet with a dislocated elbow, was an All-American in all-around her first two seasons.

Steady it up. Seattle Pacific dipped a bit at the Mar. 25 MPSF Championships, finishing fourth. However, SPU has consistently scored above 192 points the latter half of the season, including a near-school record team total (193.650) Mar. 19. At the MPSF meet, the Falcons wobbled on beam, scoring a season-low 46.800 and finishing behind Sacramento State (194.550), San Jose State (192.025) and UC Davis (191.400). Air Force finished fifth with 189.850 and Alaska Anchorage was sixth (189.275). Joining Huss on the all-conference teams were Kelly on vault (1st team), Kristin Bryant (So., Anchorage, Ak./West Anchorage) on vault (2nd), Reynolds on bars (2nd), McDaniel on beam and floor (both 2nd) and Sullivan in all-around (2nd). Tindall shared coach of the year honors with Anchorage’s Paul Stoklos. Sac State’s Nirvana Zaher and San Jose’s Jennifer Greene were named co-gymnasts of the year.

The contenders. Individually, Seattle Pacific features at least four title contenders. Kelly and Reynolds have both tied the school record on vault this season, each sticking a 9.875. Huss is considered a quadruple threat on bars, beam and floor where she currently ranks 4th, 5th and 4th, respectively, among USAG competitors. McDaniel could be considered a dark horse on floor at the national meet (ranks 10th), but she has experience on her side. The last SPU national champion was Kristin Strid (now an assistant coach) on bars in 2003.

Season recap. Beginning the season brimming with several promising recruits and boasting a cadre of decorated veteran performers, Seattle Pacific has looked every bit a title contender all season long. Near midseason it scored 192.100, and earned three more team marks above 192 afterward, including a No. 2 all-time score in the final home meet of the season against Anchorage. In that meet, the team achieved a new school mark for vault (48.650).

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. .