Feb. 26, 2006
Complete Results
LINCOLN, NE -- No. 10-rated University of Nebraska proved to be the "masters" of their own Masters Women's Gymnastics Classic as the Cornhuskers easily captured the team title in a four-school meet which saw Northern Illinois University come in fourth on Sunday (Feb. 26).
Nebraska compiled a 195.250 total to easily outscore runner-up San Jose State Univesity at 192.825. Defending Mid-American Conference champion Central Michigan University was third at 191.800 with Northern Illinois close behind at 191.600.
"We competed well, but we were simply outgunned by some great teams," NIU coach Mark Sontag said. "We're still one person short of being able to get us on par with these folks. I still believe once we get healthy, we're very capable of moving up. Right now we're kind of limping along, but still doing the best we're able."
Nebraska's domination was evident on the awards stand as each individual event title went to a Cornhusker. Emily Parsons won the all-around with a 38.750 that included first-place finishes from the vault (9.900) and floor exercise (9.875). Vanessa Meloche gave Nebrska the uneven parallel bars title with her 9.950 while teammate Tricia Woo was No. 1 on the balance beam at 9.000. The Cornhuskers had the top team score for all four individual events and generally boasted at least four of the top six placefinishers.
For Northern Illinois, the top individual showing was a seventh-place finish from Jennifer Naughton (Smithville, MO) on the balance beam with a 9.750 that was just ahead of teammate Jennifer Rice (Homewood / Homewood-Flossmoor) at 9.700.
On the uneven parallel bars, Ashlee Williams (Liberty, MO / Senior) tied for seventh with a 9.725 while teammate Jody Yednock (West Chicago) was ninth with a 9.700. Amber Whitecotton (Crystal Lake / South) led NIU on vault with 9.650 and then shared the Huskie high for floor exercise with Bethany Plapp (Sycamore / DeKalb) as both gymnasts earned 9.650.
"Jennifer Naughton did a nice job on beam as did Jennifer Rice, who was really on for floor as well. Jody Yednock scored well on both beam and bars as did Ashlee Willliams on bars. At one point, we were ahead of Central Michigan and considering we're missing Leah (Johnson -- Glenview / Glenbrook South), that's pretty good," Sontag noted. "I'm very proud of them and how they keep pushing themselves. It's too bad we can't take a timeout on the season, get healthy and get after it. But in the mean time, I know they'll just keep developing their routines to the max."
Northern Illinois returns to the Convocation Center for its home finale this Sunday (March 5) when Michigan State University comes to town for a 2 p.m. dual.
(For further information, please contact Steve Nemeth) --NIU--
