Feb. 20, 2002

According to the dictionary resiliency is defined as the ability to bounce back in the face of adversity, and at last check the example given was the UCSB women's gymnastics team. In the midst of perhaps the most trying season in recent memory the Gauchos continue to battle thru numerous obstacles, along the way improving in all aspects of the game. After posting the third lowest team score (173.500) of the season on Thursday night at Cal State Fullerton, Santa Barbara bounced back to post the second highest team score (185.500) of the season in a meet at Cal on Sunday afternoon.

The meet at Fullerton was highlighted by the outstanding performances of Gaucho sophomore Lesley Ross and Freshmen Nicole Longnecker. Ross and Longnecker took home first and third place respectfully with scores of 9.875 and 9.750. Both performances were personal Gaucho season high scores, with Ross's score breaking her own team high for the season, which she had set at 9.725. Ross also finished in fourth place in the individual all-around competition with a score of 37.975, which was good enough for personal career highs in place (ie. 4th ) and score. Also of note Junior Talia Gamm competed in the all around for the first time this season. She finished in 7th place with an impressive score of 35.825.

Perhaps the tough competition was the motivation or maybe it was the long ride up north, either way the Gauchos came out on fire against UCLA. Cal, and UC Davis on Sunday afternoon posting a team score of 185.500, exactly 12 points higher than their results on Thursday. While no UCSB gymnasts were able to place in the top three in any individual events, the scores were improved across the board, which accounts for the drastic increase in the team score.

Junior Ryanne Strohm led the way for the Gauchos with a dazzling performance on the uneven parallel bars, scoring 9.675. Nicole Longnecker was not to be out done by Strohm though, posting a nearly equivalent score of 9.625, which wrapped up an impressive weekend for the freshmen.

With all the travels of the last week the Gauchos are looking forward to competing on their own turf as they take on San Jose State and Eastern Michigan, Saturday evening at 7pm. The team is going to give a special tribute to the parents of Mari-Rae Sopper, former coach who passed in the terrorists attack on September 11th, prior to the meet.

Results from 2/14 at Cal State Fullerton

Team Scores 1. Fullerton- 191.775; 2. San Jose State- 189.600; 3. UCSB- 173.500

Balance Beam 1. Lesley Ross, 9.875, UCSB; 2. Kelly Mathiason, 9.800, Fullerton; 3. Nicole Longnecker, 9.750, UCSB.

Vault 1. Joanna Hughes, 9.875, Fullerton; 2. Kelly Mathiasen, 9.750, Fullerton; 3. Dani Albright, 9.750, SJSU.

Uneven Parallel Bars 1. (tie) Megan Berry & Joanna Hughes, 9.850, Fullerton; 3. Sharon Snell, 9.775, Fullerton

Floor Exercise 1. Megan Berry, 9.900, Fullerton; 2. Sharon Snell, 9.850, Fullerton; 3. Kelly Mathiasen, 9.825, Fullerton.

Individual All-Around 1. Shirla Choy, 38.450, SJSU; 2. Kelly Mathiasen, 38.325, Fullerton; 3. Sharon Snell, 38.325, Fullerton

Results For Meet on 2/17 at Cal

Team Scores 1. UCLA, 194.825; 2. Cal, 192.825; 3. UC Davis 190.550; 4. UCSB, 185.500.

Balance Beam 1. (tie) Alyssa Beckerman & Michelle Conway, UCLA, 9.900; 3. My-Lan Dodd, Cal 9.800.

Vault 1. Janet McKnight, Cal, 9.825; 2.Jeanette Antolin, UCLA, 9.700; 3. Flora Bare, UC Davis, 9.675.

Uneven Parallel Bars 1. (tie) Jamie Dantzscher & Doni Thompson UCLA, 9.975; 3. Ericka Ruelas, UC Davis, 9.900.

Floor Exercise 1. Jamie Dantzscher, UCLA, 10.000; 2. Malia Jones, UCLA, 9.900; 3. Flora Bare, UC Davis, 9.875.

Individual All- Around 1. My- Lan Dodd, Cal, 39.075. 2. Malia Jones, UCLA, 38.825; 3. Flora Bare, UC Davis, 38.350.