Weekly Release PDF Version

All Press Releases

Davis, part deux. Encouraged and invigorated by its best score of the season, Seattle Pacific University will turn its focus to competition for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation gymnastics crown. The Falcons (1-11) fly south toward the California capital for a duel meet versus their top rival, UC Davis (7-6). Its the second week in a row that SPU will face the Aggies and the third of four straight meets on the road. Oregon State will be the final stop Mar. 16 before returning home to host Washington for Senior Night Mar. 23. The MPSF Championships are at SPU Mar. 30.

Getting it together. Coach Laurel Tindall seems to be bringing together the personnel for the right lineups at the right time with respect to the end game, the USA Gymnastics Championships. Healing injuries have allowed the Tindall to field stronger and stronger lineups. The net result came at Boise last week with season-high team scores on vault (48.375), bars (48.350) and beam (47.750). Tindall is aiming for her squad to hit peak performance when it returns home at the end of the month. Seattle Pacific will defend its MPSF title against UC Davis, Air Force and Alaska Anchorage.

Room to grow. For the second week in a row, SPU was invovled in a meet where Oregon State proved to be in a different class. The Beavers (196.475) won the quadrangular in Idaho by 3.7 points. The next spot was up for grabs, with just 0.725 points separating UC Davis (192.775), the host Broncos (192.775) and SPU (192.050). Tindall was encouraged by her team's composite score, especially because she’s relatively confident that the floor score of 47.575 was an aberration. It was the first time the Falcons have exceeded 192 in 23 meets, dating back to 2005.

National rankings. There was some movement among the top eight in the latest USAG rankings. Maryland's Towson held on to No. 1, but defending champion Texas Woman's moved ahead of Rutgers into second after posting a 192.500 over the weekend. The Falcons are perched in fourth with Centenary (La.) breaking into the top five. Cornell, Temple and James Madison round-out the top eight. The top eight teams after Mar. 30 qualify for the USAG Championships, to be hosted by Seattle Pacific Apr. 19-21. Event-wise SPU ranks No. 2 on vault, fifth on bars, fourth on balance beam and floor exercise.

Gotta respect Sullivan. Growing stronger and more confident in her comeback from a preseason hand fracture, Sarah Sullivan (Sr., Salem, Or./Sprague) competed four events for the second week in a row, totaling a team best 38.550 all-around. Sullivan’s 9.750 vault was her best mark but perhaps most impressive was her 9.625 swing on the uneven bars. She had been held off bars until two weeks ago because of the event’s stress on the hands. Debra Huss (Sr., Orangevale, Ca./Bella Vista) scored 38.500. Huss tops the national rankings in the all-around, and is No. 2 on beam and No. 3 on floor.

Consistency scores. While the Falcons put together nearly 10 season-highs, only one came in the two troublesome events, bars and beam. Still, Tindall must have breathed easier because at least her team was not forced to count any falls. The bars score was raised by 0.350 points and the beam by 0.150 over the previous bests. On vault, all five scorers stuck a 9.600 or better, led by Kristin Bryant’s (Sr., Anchorage, Ak./West Anchorage) 9.800–her best score in two years. It tied her for No. 8 on the all-time vault list and it was the seventh straight time Bryant has scored a 9.700 or better. She is third nationally among USAG vaulters.

Turning it around. It takes a team effort but sometimes one person can really make a difference. After managing a meager 46.125 bar sum the preceding week, SPU needed a shot in the arm, and Christie Chinaka (Jr., Honolulu, Hi.) came through. Chinaka started the bars rotation with a career-best 9.775 and the Falcons were on their way. Sadie Johnston (So., Wilsonville, Or./North Marion) earned a lineup spot during the week and responded with 9.600 and Ashley Domres (Jr., Scottsdale, Az./Scottsdale Christian) turned in a 9.700.

Gym shorts. Tindall called on Domres to compete all-around, giving the Falcons four altogether. Domres totaled 38.025 in her first four-event meet since her freshman season. Only her vault and floor scores came in below a 9.525. Domres’ uneven bars score (9.700) led the team...The Falcons have now used five different athletes as all-arounders, equaliing the most in at least 12 years…Brianna Schwartz (So., Bonney Lake, Wa./Sumner) did not compete because of a sore shoulder. She may return on a limited basis this week…Amber Lundgren (So., Temecula, Ca./Temecula Valley) churned out a 35.900 all-around total. She was solid across the board, but fell off bars twice. Lundgren danced a team-best 9.725 on floor exercise…Melissa Daniels (So., Salinas, Ca./N. Monterey Cty.) vaulted 9.600...Huss is eighth in USAG on bars and Sullivan is ninth on beam.

Tickets, please. Ticket prices for all SPU regular season meets are $5 for general admission, with students and senior citizens $3. Group and team rates are available by phoning (206) 281-2085 in advance.

SPU Coaches. Laurel Tindall is synonymous with Seattle Pacific gymnastics, having either competed or coached each of the program’s 34 years. Under her guidance, SPU has won three national championships (1986, ‘92, ‘97) and, individually, her gymnasts have taken 19 titles. Now in her 32nd year, Tindall has been honored as national coach of the year four times and two years ago, 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 seventh season as an assistant coach. Siwek was a two-time All-America and a member of the 1997 national championship team. Anna Leiferman is in her first year on the staff. She was a member of the team in 2003 and ‘04.

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 Collegiate Gymnastics Information Center or Mountain Pacific Sports FederationWebsites.