University of Minnesota Athletics
GOPHER GYMNASTICS TEAM TO OPEN SEASON AT HOME AGAINST ILLINOIS
1/2/2002 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The University of Minnesota women's gymnastics team will open the 2002 regular season against Illinois in the first of three consecutive home meets for the Gophers. The meet is set to begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan, 5, in the Sports Pavilion.
Norman, Skokut Win Two Events To Lead Gophers In Intrasquad Meet
Senior Courtney Norman (Minneapolis, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) and sophomore Mary Skokut (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) each finished first in two events to lead the Gophers to a team score of 188.9 in the annual intrasquad meet on Sunday, Dec. 23.
Norman earned a 9.625 on vault and a 9.65 on floor exercise. Skokut had an impressive showing by taking top honors on balance beam with a 9.65 and scoring a 37.85 in the all around. Sophomore Annie Laatsch (Lakeville, Minn./Burnsville) claimed first place in the uneven bars event with a 9.8.
Gopher Notes
Minnesota finished third in the conference last season, claimed a third place regional finish and ended the season ranked 15th ... The Golden Gophers return six gymnasts who earned All-Big Ten honors in 2001-more than any Gopher squad in Minnesota history ... The Gophers have made six-consecutive trips to the NCAA Regionals ... Minnesota missed the 2001 NCAA Championships by a mere 0.15 ... Minnesota will look for MaryAnne Kelley's (Barrington, Ill./Fremd) leadership on the floor this season ... Kelley earned second-team All- America honors on vault last year, becoming the fourth Gopher gymnast to earn All-American acclaim ... Kelley was honored as the 2001 NCAA North Central Region Gymnast of the Year ... She owns eight of the top 12 best scores in Gopher history, holding the school record in the all around with a 39.525 and ties for first in the floor exercise, with a 9.95 ... She earned All-Big Ten honors in the all around and floor exercise last year.
About Illinois
The Fighting Illini finished the regular season with a 3-13 record. This season, Illinois returns seven letterwinners from last year's team that finished seventh in the Big Ten. Junior Jana Gallagher finished sixth in the all around at the Big Ten Championships and competed at the NCAA Region 3 Championships on floor exercise. Junior Karen Hawley was selected as an alternate at the NCAA Region 3 Championships.
Illinois coach Bob Starkell is in third year with the Fighting Illini women's gymnastics team. Before being named head coach, Starkell served as an assistant for six years under then-head coach Lynn Brueckmann. He was named the 1998 Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year. Starkell owns an all-time record of 10-23.
The Last Time Against Illinois
Minnesota has not faced Illinois in a meet since Feb. 27, 1999. In that competition, the Gophers beat the Fighting Illini, 194.900- 194.475. Minnesota set season highs for total team score, vault, uneven bars and floor exercise. The Gophers swept the top three places in the vault, and recorded a season-best 48.750 in the event. Minnesota earned the top three spots on the uneven bars, recording a 49.250. On the floor exercise, four athletes recorded a 9.8 or higher, leading to a season-high team score of 49.125.
Minnesota Co-Head Coaches Jim and Meg Stephenson
This season marks 20 years of partnership for co-head coaches Jim and Meg Stephenson. The Stephenson's have combined both knowledge and experience to create a successful coaching team year after year.
Jim Stephenson is in his 10th season as co-head coach of the Golden Gophers. He earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in 1997 and 1995. Stephenson has a career record of 132-111-1. Meg Stephenson is in her fifth season as a co-head coach after five seasons as an assistant coach.
Assistant Coach Doug Day Doug Day enters his fifth year as the assistant coach for Minnesota women's gymnastics. Day brings a host of technical, judging and coaching experience to the Golden Gophers. Prior to coming to Minnesota, he served as the assistant men's gymnastics coach at the University of New Mexico from 1986-97. During his time at New Mexico, he also taught physical education courses.
Up Next
Minnesota will host Stanford on Saturday, Jan.12, in the Sports Pavilion at 7 p.m.
