University of Minnesota Athletics
2002 Women's Gymnastics Season Outlook
12/17/2001 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
"We have one of the most cohesive teams we have ever had," said Meg Stephenson. "This year there is so much wonderful team unity."
Minnesota's experienced group of returners will lead the team in 2002 in hopes of another winning season and a visit to the NCAA Championships.
After missing the championships by a mere 0.15 last year, the Gophers have a commitment to physical readiness and discipline, that will make them national contenders.
| Senior MaryAnne Kelley |
This year's junior class is led by the talents of Jenny Alf (Ripon,Wis./Ripon) and Leigh Dixon (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./The Bishop's School). Dixon, an All-Big Ten performer, ranks second on the Gopher all-time record list on vault. Alf, a beam and floor specialist, ranks on the all-time Minnesota list in those events. An All-Big Ten honoree, Alf was ranked nationally among the top ten on beam going into the NCAA Regionals in 2001.
The promising sophomore class has a plethora of talent headed by Mary Skokut (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) and Annie Laatsch (Lakeville, Minn./Burnsville). All-Big Ten honoree Skokut set personal best scores on beam with a 9.925, which tied her for second place on the Gopher record list. Her 9.90 score on bars ties her for fourth amongst the Gopher record list. Laatsch is also ranked on the Minnesota record list tied at second and fourth on uneven bars.
| Senior Megan Beuckens |
On vault, the Gophers are looking better than ever this year. Senior All-Big Ten honoree Courtney Norman (Minneapolis, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) leads the group after being one of the Gophers highest finisher in the event last season. Minnesota is focused on a variety of vaults and have been working with a higher level of standards than any other year.
Assistant coach Doug Day has worked earnestly with the bars ensemble with an increase in dismount difficulty. We can expect to see an expanse in the variety of release elements this season. This year1s main focus on beam is consistency. Minnesota has great talent to chose from in this event.
Minnesota returns this year with all the performers from last season on floor exercise. The returning student-athletes have also stepped up the difficulty of their routines, adding to the potential of the teams success. This season will be full of spectacular depth and the competitiveness within the group which has made the team work harder to continue to improve in this event.
With the strength of the returning gymnasts and the promise of the new student-athletes, Minnesota is poised for a return to the national championship in 2002.
Written by Women's Athletics Sports Information Gymnastics Contact Denee Kuykendall The Gophers are excited about the possibilities in 2002. Minnesota co-head coaches Jim and Meg Stephenson exude confidence in their talented squad, which only lost two letterwinners from last year's team.
"We have one of the most cohesive teams we have ever had," said Meg Stephenson. "This year there is so much wonderful team unity."
Minnesota's experienced group of returners will lead the team in 2002 in hopes of another winning season and a visit to the NCAA Championships.
After missing the championships by a mere 0.15 last year, the Gophers have a commitment to physical readiness and discipline, that will make them national contenders.
| Senior MaryAnne Kelley |
This year's junior class is led by the talents of Jenny Alf (Ripon,Wis./Ripon) and Leigh Dixon (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./The Bishop's School). Dixon, an All-Big Ten performer, ranks second on the Gopher all-time record list on vault. Alf, a beam and floor specialist, ranks on the all-time Minnesota list in those events. An All-Big Ten honoree, Alf was ranked nationally among the top ten on beam going into the NCAA Regionals in 2001.
The promising sophomore class has a plethora of talent headed by Mary Skokut (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) and Annie Laatsch (Lakeville, Minn./Burnsville). All-Big Ten honoree Skokut set personal best scores on beam with a 9.925, which tied her for second place on the Gopher record list. Her 9.90 score on bars ties her for fourth amongst the Gopher record list. Laatsch is also ranked on the Minnesota record list tied at second and fourth on uneven bars.
| Senior Megan Beuckens |
On vault, the Gophers are looking better than ever this year. Senior All-Big Ten honoree Courtney Norman (Minneapolis, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) leads the group after being one of the Gophers highest finisher in the event last season. Minnesota is focused on a variety of vaults and have been working with a higher level of standards than any other year.
Assistant coach Doug Day has worked earnestly with the bars ensemble with an increase in dismount difficulty. We can expect to see an expanse in the variety of release elements this season. This year1s main focus on beam is consistency. Minnesota has great talent to chose from in this event.
Minnesota returns this year with all the performers from last season on floor exercise. The returning student-athletes have also stepped up the difficulty of their routines, adding to the potential of the teams success. This season will be full of spectacular depth and the competitiveness within the group which has made the team work harder to continue to improve in this event.
With the strength of the returning gymnasts and the promise of the new student-athletes, Minnesota is poised for a return to the national championship in 2002.
Written by Women's Athletics Sports Information Gymnastics Contact Denee Kuykendall
