Jan. 26, 2002

Santa Barbara, CA- The Women's Gymnatics Team welcomed in a familiar foe this weekend as the took on the Titans of Cal State Fullerton. Unfortunately the Gauchos came out on the losing end, with a team score of 187.175 as opposed to Fullerton's 192.600.

The Gauchos were led by their crop of outstanding freshmen again, particularly Lesley Ross and Brittany Gard. Ross placed third on the vault with a score of 9.575, and also placed fourth on the balance beam (9.725). Brittany Gard was outstanding on the balance beam as well scoring a 9.475, which landed her in 7th place. On the floor exercise Talia Gamm put up a season high score of 9.725, which led to a fourth place finish. Injuries hit the Gauchos again as Freshmen Brittany Gard damaged her right knee while performing in the floor exercise, her status is indefinite at this time. On the injury Coach Alana Trimble had this to say, "With the loss of Kristi Starr early this season, it is unfortunate from a team and personal standpoint to lose another top team member. Brittany didn't have the typical freshmen jitters, she was working towards her potential and consistently improving from meet to meet."

The Titans swept first place in all of the individual events, highlighted by the outstanding effort of Kelly Mathiasen won on the balance beam with a near perfect performance and score of 9.900, as well as winning on the vault with a score of 9.800. Titan Megan Berry won the floor exercise with a score of 9.825, just ahead of Titans Nicole Kasson and Theresa O'Gara. Rounding out the individual winners for the Titans was Joanna Hughes who scored a 9.850 on the uneven parallel bars.

For the third consecutive meet the Gauchos team score improved, and again it improved drastically from 183.175 to 187.175. Coach Trimble is encouraged by the improvement even though it is not showing up as a win on the scorecard. "This meet everyone improved on their individual events, Brittany Gard was amazing, as well as Lesley Ross being on the top of her game tonight,' Coach Trimble continued to say, "I am ecstatic that everyone improved and turned in an outstanding performance on their events." Although the season is still early, the Gauchos have had to deal with some tough injuries, as well as tough losses, but their determination continues to grow. As Senior Jen Rudy put it, "The team continues to face adversity and numerous challenges, but it has drawn us closer as a team and that has helped us respond well, like we did tonight."

Look for the Gauchos to continue that improvement as they take on the Air Force Academy in Colorado for a dual meet next weekend. The Gauchos do not return home until February 23 when they face San Jose State and Eastern Michigan in Rob Gym at 7pm.

Team Competition Fullerton- 192.600, UCSB-187.175

Floor Exercise 1. Megan Berry, Fullerton, 9.825, 2. Nicole Kasson, CSUF, 9.800, Theresa O'Gara, CSUF, 9.750,

Balance Beam 1. Kelly Mathiasen, CSUF, 9.900, 2. Kimberly Punciman, CSUF, 9.825, 3. Nicole Kasson, CSUF, 9.750.

Uneven Parallel Bars 1. Joanna Hughes, CSUF, 9.850, 2. Megan Berry, CSUF, 9.775, 3. Andrea Boggs, CSUF, 9.725.

Vault 1. Kelly Mathiason, CSUF, 9.800, 2. Annette Reyes, CSUF, 9.625, Lesley Ross, UCSB, 9.575.

Indivdual All- Around Ryanne Strohm, UCSB, 37.525