University of Washington Official Athletic Site - Women's Gymnastics
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Friday's meet will mark the fourth consecutive week the Huskies have competed against a Pac-10 opponent.
Feb. 5, 1998
SEATTLE-- The Washington women's gymnastics team (4-1) takes to the road for the third time in three weeks when it visits Arizona for a meet that also includes California and Illinois-Chicago Friday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m. PST at the McKale Cen ter.
The Meet/The Field: Friday's meet will mark the fourth consecutive week the Huskies have competed against a Pac-10 opponent. The Huskies opened with a dual meet at Stanford, hosted California in a four-way meet and traveled to Oregon State last week. Washington stands 2-1 against Pac-10 foes this season. The meet will feature the first-ever competition against Illinois-Chicago. In Washington's only home meet of the 1998 season, the Huskies placed first (191.250) to Cal's third-place (186.650) showing. Last season Washington and Arizona met in two different competitions with the Huskies coming out ahead both times. Washington defeated the Wildcats (195.325 to 191.925 in a three-way meet in Seattle and then placed above Arizona at the Pac-10 Championships with a third-place showing (196.025) compared to the Wildcats' fifth-place (194.950) finish.
Last Week: Washington turned in its top team score of the season, but it was not enough to defeat Oregon State (193.500 to 191.800) in Corvallis. The loss was Washington's first of the season. The Huskies had only one event winner, Klara Kudilkova, who tied for first on vault with a score of 9.850. Tiffany Simpson placed second in the all-around (38.800) after placing first in Washington' first two meets of the year. Sophomore Rhyan Pelander did not compete due to a strained neck and all-arounder Jamie Stauffer missed the floor exercise due to a strained achilles tendon.
The Polls: Washington dropped one spot to 19th in this week's coaches poll after starting the year ranked 9th in the preseason poll. Arizona is ranked 21st in this week's poll.
Individual Rankings: Several Huskies are currently ranked among the top-25 in the nation following the first few weeks of competition. Junior Tiffany Simpson is 11th in the all-around with an average score of 38.767. Senior Klara Kudilkova is ranked 13th in the vault (9.783) while classmate Jamie Stauffer is 18th on vault with a 9.775 average. Sophomore Lauren Riesenman is ranked 25th on beam with an average score of 9.725.
Stauffer Slowed: Senior All-American Jamie Stauffer is off to a slow start this season due to a strained achilles tendon. Stauffer, who placed ninth at last year's NCAA Championships in the all-around (39.300), was limited to competiting on the parallel bars in UW's home opener and missed the floor exercise at Oregon State.
Scores are Down: The emphasis on tougher scoring has been evident at Washington's first three meets this season. The Huskies scored 191.525 points vs. Stanford in the season opener and followed that up with 191.250 in their home opener and 191.800 at Oregon State. Last sea son the Huskies posted scores of at least 191.500 in 16 of 17 events.
Pac-10 Honors: Junior All-American Tiffany Simpson was named the Pac-10 Conference's Gymnast of the Week for Jan. 19. Simpson led the Hus kies to a 191.525 to 190.700 victory at Stanford in Washington's first meet of the 1998 season. Simpson finished first in the all-around (38.975) and placed first in vault (9.800) and beam (9.700).
Next Week: Washington returns to Hec Edmundson Pavilion for the first of three home meets against highly-regarded opponents. The Huskies face 11th-ranked Arizona State on Feb. 13 and follow that up on consecutive Friday's with dual meets against Utah and defending NCAA Champion UCLA.
The Huskies: Washington returns four All-American and seven of its top eight gymnasts from last season. The Hus kies are coming off the must successful campaign in school history. Washington placed eighth at the NCAA Champion ships and second at the NCAA West Regionals. Head coach Bob Levesque was named the 1997 Pac-10 and West Region coach of the year.
Hosting the NCAAs: Washington will serve as the host institution for the 1998 NCAA West Regional Gymnastics Championships April 4 in Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Tickets for the event are on sale now at the Husky Ticket Office in the Graves Building. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children. All tickets are general admission.
Head Coach Bob Levesque: Washington head coach Bob Levesque is in his eighth year at Washington. Since taking over the Husky program in 1991, Levesque has posted a 74-60 (.552). Last season he was named the Pac-10 Conference and West Regional coach of the year. A 1972 Fresno State graduate, Levesque had coached five gymnasts who have competed in the Olympics.
Televised Events: Two of Washington's gym nas tics meets will be televised by Fox Sports North west this season. The Huskies meet at Oregon State on Jan. 30 will be replayed on Jan. 31 at 11 a.m. and Washington's Feb. 20 home meet with Utah will both be replayed Feb. 21 at 11 a.m. The Pac-10 Championships will air on Fox Sports Net on Sunday, March 29 at 2 p.m.
Washington at Arizona
Husky Competition Order Vault Season High Career High 1. Angela Orange 9.650 9.750 2. Jessica Schedler 9.400 9.400 3. Mandi Klug 9.650 9.650 4. Klara Kudilkova 9.850 * 10.000 5. Jamie Stauffer 9.775 9.975 6. Tiffany Simpson 9.800 9.975 Team 48.650 Beam Season High Career High 1. Rhyan Pelander 9.350 9.725 2. Mandi Klug 8.975 8.975 3. Lanna Apisukh 9.625 9.625 4. Klara Kudilkova 9.700 9.850 5. Lauren Riesenman 9.775 9.875 6. Tiffany Simpson 9.800 9.925 Team 47.875 Bars Season High Career High 1. Leah Waaramaki -- 9.700 2. Lauren Riesenman 9.475 9.800 3. Lanna Apisukh 9.450 9.450 4. Jamie Stauffer 9.825 9.900 5. Tiffany Simpson 9.825 9.925 6. Klara Kudilkova 9.625 9.850 Team 47.875 Floor Season High Career High 1. Rhyan Pelander 9.350 9.775 2. Leah Waaramaki 9.575 9.400 3. Lauren Riesenman 9.825 9.900 4. Lanna Apisukh 9.725 9.725 5. Tiffany Simpson 9.850 * 10.000 6. Klara Kudilkova 9.850 9.950 Team 48.825 All-Around Season High Career High 1. Tiffany Simpson 38.975 39.625 2. Klara Kudilkova 38.600 39.475 Team 191.800 196.775 * School Record
