Closing time. With the national meet just a month away, the regular season comes to a close for the Seattle Pacific University gymnastics team. Finishing out a four-meet road stretch, the Falcons (5-10) travel to Corvallis for the Salbasgeon Suites Invitational Friday night (Mar. 17) for a Saint Patrick’s Day five-way meet, hosted by 17th-ranked Oregon State (10-7). No. 18 Kentucky (11-5), Boise State (8-3) and Washington (5-13) complete the field. The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships are Mar. 24 in Colorado Springs, Co., followed by a break before the USA Gymnastics Championships Apr. 13-15 in Ithaca, New York.

Nothing to lose. It may be the most challenging meet of the season, but could also be the most liberating. SPU is the clear underdog in the upcoming Oregon meet with four elite gymnastics programs, but what better reason to aim high and allow some very good competition set the pace for a season-high score? There may also be something about an opportunity for one last push before conference. Last season the Falcons hit their No. 2 all-time team total (193.650) during the final regular season meet at Anchorage. In both of last season’s meets with multiple Division I powers (at Washington and Boise), the Falcons scored in excess of 191 points.

For all the marbles. Seattle Pacific is the favorite for the MPSF crown, based on the statistical rankings. The Falcons hold a slight edge over UC Davis, however the Aggies beat SPU in their only meeting Feb. 4. Alaska Anchorage and host Air Force complete the conference field. Seattle Pacific has never finished above third place in the MPSF and is seeking its first conference title since winning the Western Independents in 1998.

Sealing the deal. Accomplishing what they set out to do, Laurel Tindall’s Falcons came home from Alaska with a pair of wins last week. SPU defeated Alaska Anchorage 189.600 to 187.300 in the first of two meets. Jaynie Reynolds (Sr., White Rock, BC/Marriot) was named MPSF gymnast of the week after her performance against the Seawolves. She finished first on vault with 9.750 en route to winning the all-around (38.500). This was Reynolds’ second-highest career all-around score. SPU and UAA were joined the following evening by No. 11-ranked Nebraska for a three-way meet. The Cornhuskers scored 194.775 for the win, followed by the Falcons (190.225) and the Seawolves (188.575).

Beam breakthrough. The Falcons broke through what was beginning to be an insurmountable obstacle–the balance beam. Finally pushing through the 47 point range, the Falcons accumulated a season-high 48.150 on the event. Sarah Sullivan (Jr., Salem, Or./Sprague) led a Falcon sweep on the apparatus with a season-high 9.800. Ashley Domres (So., Scottsdale, Az./Scottsdale Christian) was second with 9.725 and Kristin Bryant (Jr., Anchorage, Ak./West Anchorage) was third with 9.700. Both Domres’ and Bryant’s scores were also season-highs. Not having scored 38 points or more in five meets, Sullivan had a breakthrough of her own as she accumulated 38.375 and finished runnerup.

More podium finishes. Other highlights from the dual meet included a first-place vault finish from Reynolds (9.750), followed by Sullivan (9.650) in second. Reynolds was also second on bars with a 9.700. Brianna Schwartz (Fr., Bonney Lake, Wa./Sumner) was the lone Falcon to place top-three against Anchorage and Nebraska, scoring a season-high 38.125 to finish third overall.

Camping out. Seattle Pacific has made its home at No. 3 in the USAG statistical rankings. The Falcons, whose regional qualifying score bumped up to 190.380, have been camped out at third the past three weeks. Texas Woman’s still holds the lead (191.315), and Rutgers (190.885) remains second. Event-wise the Falcons moved up to No. 2 on beam and are third on vault and floor and fourth on bars. Rutgers and Texas Woman’s split the top spots for the individual events, with Rutgers leading beam and Texas Woman’s leading vault and bars. UC Davis remains in the ranking mix for vault and bars at No. 2.

Gym shorts. Debra Huss (Jr., Orangevale, Ca./Bella Vista) did not make the Alaska trip. Huss, the reigning USAG champion on floor, bars and all-around, has been limited to bars and missed four meets altogether since an ankle injury Feb. 3. She took third in the MPSF all-around last season. Huss is expected to join the team for the OSU excursion...The three names that continue to be synonymous with the national rankings are Reynolds, Sullivan and Bryant. Reynolds is in the top-ten in each category: No. 3 in the all-around, fifth on floor, seventh on vault and bars and ninth on beam. Sullivan is tied for first on beam and is No. 2 in the all-around. Bryant ranks fourth on vault and seventh on floor...Christie Chinaka (So., Honolulu, Hi./home school) entered the bars and beam lineups for the Alaska trip. She swung scores of 9.475 and 9.075 and negotiated a 9.000...Amber Lundgren (Fr., Temecula, Ca./Temecula Valley) vaulted a 9.400 and danced a 9.350...Melissa Daniels (Fr., Salinas, Ca./N. Monterey County) scored 9.000 on vault...Shannon McConahey (Fr., San Jose, Ca./Willow Glen) scored 9.300 on bars...Brianna Piedmonte (So., Chandler, Az./Desert Vista) had a 8.500 on beam...Bryant vaulted 9.725 and danced 9.450...Schwartz’ event highs were 9.525 on vault, 9.625 on bars, 9.450 on beam and 9.550 on floor...Domres swung the team’s highest score on bars (9.750) and danced 9.475.

SPU Coaches. Coach Laurel Tindall is synonymous with Seattle Pacific gymnastics, having either competed or coached each of the program’s 33 years. Under her guidance, SPU has won three national championships (1986, ‘92, ‘97) and, individually, her gymnasts have taken 19 titles. Now in her 31st year, Tindall has been honored as national coach of the year four times and last year she was the MPSF coach of the year. Originally, Tindall competed for the Falcons, winning a national crown on vault as a senior. She then succeeded George Lewis as head coach. Tindall is a charter member of the Falcon Legends Hall of Fame. Kathy Siwek returns for her sixth 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 third year on the staff after having completing her career in 2003 as a three-time All-America and national champion on bars. Four-time all-American Corrie McDaniel joins the coaching staff this 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 calling 206-281-2085 in advance.

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. For updated gymnastics standings and statistics, see the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation web site, or the Collegiate Gymnastics Information Center.