April 14, 2006
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This Week --
The No. 11-ranked Arizona State University gymnastics team captured its first regional title in 20 years, as the Sun Devils (19-7 overall, 4-3 dual meets) finished first in the North Central Regional in Ames, Iowa with a score of 196.675. The Sun Devils will compete in Session 2 of the NCAA championships in Corvallis, Ore. from April 20 to 22.
Sun Devils To NCAA Championships In Corvallis, Oregon --
The Arizona State Sun Devils are making their 19th championship appearance in school history as they travel to the NCAA Championships in Corvallis, Ore. from April 20-22. The Sun Devils will compete in Session 2, during the evening, and have drawn Georgia, Iowa State, Oregon State, Florida and Arkansas in their session. Their rotation for the championships is as follows:
Rotation 1:
Bye Rotation 4: Bye Rotation 2:
Floor Rotation 5: Bars Rotation 3:
Vault Rotation 6: Beam
Championship Factoids --
ASU won its third regional title in 20 years of competition (1983 and 1987).
ASU has advanced to the Championships for the 22nd time in school history (3 - AIAW; 19 - NCAA).
Since the NCAA adopted the 12-team/Super Six format in 1993, the Sun Devils have advanced to the Super Six in 3 of 7 tries.
ASU's highest finish in Nationals is second-place, achieved four times (1983, 1985, 1986, 1997). All three defeats in the 1980s were to Utah and the closest ASU has ever come to winning the title was by a 0.250 margin in 1986. ASU's highest finish in the Super Six was second-place in 1997.
ASU's highest-ever score in the Championships (round of 12 or 6) is 196.850 (12 - 1997). ASU's highest Super Six score is 196.450 (1998).
ASU has had 9 individual NCAA championships, most recently Ashley Kelly in 2004 (BB).
Meet Head Coach John Spini--
The Sun Devils, under 26th-year head coach John Spini, are in a new era of Sun Devil gymnastics with the $2 million John Spini Gymnastics Training Facility on the ASU campus. It is the first time in five years that the squad has trained on campus. Spini has led the Sun Devils to the NCAA Championships for the fourth time in six years. Spini is currently ASU's longest-tenured head coach, and is tied for second on the all-time Sun Devil head coaching list with long-time track and field mentor Senon "Baldy" Castillo. Former Sun Devil women's tennis coaching legend Anne Pittman holds the distinction as the longest-tenured ASU head coach in school history at 31 seasons.
Spini Named 2006 Pac-10 Conference Co-Coach Of The Year --
26th-year Sun Devil head coach John Spini was named the 2006 Pacific-10 Conference Co-Coach of the Year by his peers Saturday at the conference champiosnhips in Corvallis, Oregon. Spini led his squad to a ninth-place national ranking in 2006 and a fourth-place finish at the conference championships. Stanford's Kristen Smyth, a former Spini assistant coach, was the co-winner along with Spini.
ASU In The Rankings --
ASU debuted at No. 14 in the
GymInfo rankings, based on the preseason coaches poll released in December. ASU was No. 11 in the final regular season rankings, which are based upon regional qualifying score (RQS). ASU has climbed five spots within the past two rankings periods. Pac-10 Conference foe UCLA was selected third in the preseason poll with 579 votes and three first-place bids. ASU received 293 votes and was neighbored in the standings by No. 9 Stanford (417), No. 13 Oregon State (331), No. 17 Arizona (188) and No. 18 Washington (185). For info access http://www.troester.com/gym/.
ASU Faced Nation's Finest --
Arizona State faced eight of the nation's Top 25 teams in 2006, according to the preseason coaches poll. Of the squads the Sun Devils met in `06, Utah was No. 2, UCLA No. 3, Stanford No. 9, Iowa State No. 11 (twice), Oregon State No. 13, Arizona No. 17, Washington No. 18 and Denver No. 21 in the preseason coaches poll. Five of those meetings were at home in Wells Fargo Arena.
ASU In The Rankings/Individual & Team Events --
Senior Ashley Kelly is ranked 2nd nationally in the all-around (39.555) while junior April Boone is 17th (39.36). Kelly has the nation's best all-around score this year (39.875). Kelly also ranks 1st (9.925) on the balance beam, including the only 10.0 in the nation this year, tied for 6th on the uneven parallel bars (9.9) and tied for 12th on vault (9.895). Boone is tied for 13th on the floor exercise (9.895) and tied for 24th on vault (9.88). Harris is 20th (9.865) on beam. ASU is ranked 9th (196.12) nationally as a team. The Sun Devils are ranked 15th on floor exercise (49.045), 7th on balance beam (49.06), 12th on the uneven parallel bars (49.01) and are 8th on vault (49.205). ASU owns the best team score (197.75) in the nation this year.
2006 Results --
4/8/06: at North Central Regional--ASU won the North Central regional with a score of 196.650 to advance to the NCAA Championships. ASU posted its second-highest floor score of the season with a 49.200. Senior Ashley Kelly won the balance beam (9.900) and the 22nd all-around title of her career (39.525).
3/25/06: at Pac-10 Championships--
ASU finished fourth at the 2006 Pacific-10 Conference Championships in Corvallis, Oregon. ASU's 193.900 was its lowest score since January. The Sun Devils posted their lowest vault score of the year (48.275). Senior Ashley Kelly tied for second on the balance beam (9.95) and placed fourth in the all-around (39.475).3/18/06: at Denver--
ASU compiled its second-best road score of the year, 196.125 in a loss to No. 19 Denver (196.475). Ashley Kelly's 39.375 in the all-around won her the 21st title in her career. Nicole Harris was second (39.225). Cassandra Jusino won the vault competition with a 9.9 for ASU's only individual event win.3/10/06: vs. Iowa State--
Senior Ashley Kelly saved her best for last, recording her school-record 20th career all-around title with a nation's best score of 39.875 in the final home meet of her career. Kelly posted a perfect 10.0 on the balance beam, her first of the year and the first in the nation this year. She won bars (9.95), beam (10.0) and floor (9.95) and finished tied for second on vault (9.975). Her all-around score of 39.875 tied her career best, set three times. Junior April Boone won vault with a perfect 10.0, the second in the nation this season. ASU's team score of 197.75 was its best of the campaign and the best in the nation this year (7th-best in school history). Freshman Nicole Harris posted her best all-around score (39.575). Boone posted her career-best all-around (39.525) as well. ASU achieved season-bests on vault (49.625), beam (49.4) and floor (49.425).3/3/06: at California--
ASU scored its second-best team total of the season, a 196.25 at California. The Sun Devils compiled a season-high 49.15 on floor and their vault (49.225) and beam (49.025) scores were the second and third-best scores, respectively, of the year. Ashley Kelly won the 19th all-around title of her career with a 39.65. She won three events -- vault (9.95), bars (9.9) and beam (9.925) and was second on floor (9.875). April Boone won floor (9.9). ASU swept the all-around competition for the second straight meet. Ashlee Hinkle had her best meet, posting career-highs on vault (9.775) and floor (9.825).2/24/06: UNO's Classic Field--
ASU scored a 196.95, its best score of the campaign, to win the annual UNO's Classic vs. Oregon State (195.55), Boise State (192.275) and Wisconsin-Oshkosh (181.25). The score was tied for the third-highest in the nation this year. The crowd of 1,321 was the eighth-largest in Sun Devil history. ASU swept the all-around as Ashley Kelly took first (39.6), April Boone second (39.5), Nicole Harris was third (39.425) and Cassandra Jusino fourth (39.275). Boone won vault (9.9). ASU posted its best score of the year on bars (49.5) and the best score in the nation. Kelly won (9.975). ASU scored a season-best (49.175) on beam with Harris (9.925) winning. Jusino won floor (9.925).2/19/06: at UCLA--
ASU placed second (194.575) in this quad meet with UCLA (196.675), Cal State-Fullerton (189.8) and UC-Davis (187.925). Junior April Boone won vault with a score of 9.9 while Ashley Kelly was 4th (9.85). Kelly was 4th on bars (9.85) and tied for 1st on beam (9.85) with UCLA's Jordan Schwikert. Boone was 3rd on floor (9.85). Kelly was 3rd (39.35) in the all-around while Boone was 4th (39.325).2/10/06: vs. Stanford--
ASU scored a 195.725, which was above its season average of 194.931, but fell to No. 12 Stanford (196.325). ASU had to count a fall on floor and beam, but still managed its second-best team score of the season. Ashley Kelly won the 17th all-around title of her career, posting a 39.675, her season best and the best score in the nation this year. Kelly won on vault (9.975) and beam (9.925) and was second on bars (9.875) and third on floor (9.9). Junior Cassandra Jusino placed second in the all-around with a 39.475, her first all-around competition of the campaign. She tied for first on floor (9.925) with teammate April Boone and was second on vault (9.95) and on beam (9.875). Boone won the floor exercise (9.925).2/3/06: vs. Utah--
ASU scored a season-high 196.1, but it fell just shy of upsetting No.2 Utah at Wells Fargo Arena. Utah posted a 196.175. ASU did not score a 196 or above until March 18 last year. April Boone and Nicole Harris tied for all-around honors at 39.35. Ashley Kelly won the uneven parallel bars (9.95) while Boone won on floor (9.925). Kelly also tied for third (9.875) on vault. The crowd of 1,521 was the third-largest to witness a home gymnastics meet at ASU.1/27/06: at Washington/Seattle Pacific--
ASU (195.175) remained unbeaten in defeating Washington (191.525) and Seattle Pacific (190.225). Junior April Boone won the all-around title (39.2). Junior Cassandra Jusino had her best meet of the season, tying for first (9.9) on vault and winning floor (9.9). Ashley Kelly and Nicole Harris tied for first on beam (9.875). Tia Orlando (9.725) tied with Kelly for second on bars. Kelly placed second (39.075) in the all-around competition.1/22/06: vs. Arizona--
ASU defeated Arizona, 195.3-195.15 in the home opener at WFA. Ashley Kelly won the 16th all-around title of her illustrious career, winning two events and placing no lower than third. She scored a 39.475. She won on bars (9.9, tied) and on beam (9.925). Kelly placed 2nd (9.875) on vault and tied for third on floor (9.775). Frosh Tia Orlando won vault with a 9.9, her career-high and tied for 3rd on beam (9.75). Freshman Nicole Harris tied for 3rd on bars (9.875) and on beam (9.75).1/13/06: at Boise State--
Freshman Nicole Harris won three events and the all-around as ASU defeated Boise State, 193.15-189.95 at Boise. Harris posted a 39.05 in the all-around which represented her first title in her first collegiate meet. Harris took honors on the uneven parallel bars (9.775), on balance beam (9.875) and on the floor exercise (9.75). Junior April Boone and senior Ashley Kelly tied for second in the all-around (38.6). Senior Lauren Powell was 4th (9.8) on vault and 2nd on bars (9.725). Kelly was 3rd on beam (9.825) and on floor (9.7). Freshman Tiana Jean finished 5th on floor (9.5). ASU trailed after three events, but won the meet with a score of 48.8 on beam.
April Boone (Junior):
Ranked No. 17 nationally (39.36) in the all-around ...ranked tied for 13th nationally on floor (9.895) and tied for 24th on vault (9.88) ... tied for 10th on the vault (9.825) at the North Central Regional... placed second on the floor (9.900) and tied for second on the beam (9.875), tying her career-best, at the Regional... finished tied for third in the all-around (39.300) at the Regional... tied for 11th on beam (9.85) at the Pac-10 Conference Championships ... tied for 9th on floor (9.825) at the Pac-10 meet ... tied for 3rd on floor (9.875) at No. 19 Denver ... posted career-best all-around (39.525) to place fourth vs. No. 4 Iowa State ... won vault with a perfect 10.0 score, the second gymnast in the nation to score a 10.0 on vault this season ... finished 3rd on floor (9.9) vs. ISU ... won the floor (9.9) at California ... 2nd in all-around at Cal (39.425), her second-best of career ... 2nd on vault (9.875) ... placed second (39.5) in the all-around in the UNO's Classic, the score was a career-high ... 1st on vault (9.9) ... 3rd on bars (9.9) ... t-3rd on floor (9.875) ... (third in the all-around (39.325) vs. UCLA ... won vault with a 9.9, tying her career-best ... tied for 4th on beam (9.8), her second-best score of the year ... won the floor (9.925) with a season-best vs. No. 12 Stanford ... was 4th in the all-around at 39.250 ... 4th on vault (9.9), tying a career-high ... tied with Nicole Harris to win the all-around title (39.35) vs. No. 2 Utah ... won the floor with a 9.925) ... won the all-around vs. Washington and Seattle-Pacific at 39.200 ... placed 2nd on floor (9.875) and 3rd on beam (9.85/career-high) vs. UW/USP ... 4th on bars (9.65) and T-4th on vault (9.825) ... tied for 3rd on vault (9.825) vs. Arizona ... tied for 2nd in the all-around at Boise State with teammate Ashley Kelly with a score of 38.6 ...tied for 3rd on floor (9.575), placed 4th on beam (9.775), tied for 6th on bars (9.55), and was 8th on vault (9.7) at Boise State
Carrie Finley (Freshman)
Posted a 9.625 on vault in an exhibition vs. No. 4 Iowa State ... scored an 8.95 on vault at California in her first collegiate competition.
Josie Hancock (Sophomore)
2005:
Competed in the NCAA South Central Regional and finished in the Top 20 on vault (9.700)... Competed in three events at the Pac-10 meet and finished tied for 15th in the vault(9.8), the second-best on the team ... set career-high 9.85 on vault at Utah (T-4th) and tied for sixth on floor with a career-best 9.875 ... placed 6th on beam (9.825, second highest
score of the year) versus No. 19 Minnesota ... competed on vault for the second time in 2005 and posted a career-best 9.65 vs. UM ... competed on vault (9.525) for first time vs. Penn State ... did not compete at Stanford ... 12th on beam (9.25) in UNO's Classic ... placed 3rd on balance beam (9.775) vs. California ... did not compete versus UCLA and Oregon State ... posted a 9.85 on balance beam at the Maui Invitational, good for 6th.
Nicole Harris (Freshman)
Ranked tied for 20th nationally on beam (9.865) ... tied for the North Central Regional championship on the bars (9.900) ... tied for 16th on the vault (9.800), tied for sixth on the floor (9.850), and 37th on the beam (9.350) at the Regional ... tied for 11th (9.85) on beam at the Pac-10 Conference Championships ... tied for 4th on beam (9.825) at No. 19 Denver ... finished second in the all-around at No. 19 Denver (39.225) ... posted her best all-around score of 39.575 to place 3rd vs. No. 4 Iowa State ... t-5th on vault (9.875, career-best) and was 3rd on bars (9.9) ... 2nd on beam (9.925) and t-4th on floor (9.875) ... tied for 4th on vault (9.8) at California ... 3rd on bars (9.8) and floor (9.85) at Cal ... finished 3rd in the all-around (39.425, career-high) in the UNO's Classic ... 2nd on bars (9.925) with a personal best ... won beam with a personal best of 9.925) ... scored 9.825 on floor place 7th ... tied for 6th on vault (9.825) and placed 7th on bars (9.8) vs. UCLA ... ranked ninth nationally on balance beam (9.825) ... tied for first in the all-around with April Boone (39.35) vs. No. 2 Utah ... placed third on floor (9.875) and tied for 4th on beam (9.85) ... T-1st on beam (9.875) with Ashley Kelly vs. UW/USP ... T-6th on floor (9.775) in that meet ... 4th in the all-around (38.95) vs. Arizona ... tied for 3rd on bars (9.875) and beam (9.75) and tied for 7th on vault (9.75) vs. UA ... won the all-around title (39.05) in her first collegiate meet on the road at Boise State ... garnered three first-place finishes at Boise, including bars (9.775), beam (9.875) and floor (9.75) ... also placed 10th on vault (9.65).
Ashlee Hinkle (Freshman)
Tied for 11th on the beam (9.800) at the North Central Regional and tied for 22nd on the vault (9.775) ... another great meet vs. No. 4 Iowa State, posting a career-best 9.825 on vault (t-9th) and a career-best 9.9 on beam (t-3rd) ... posted another personal best on floor (9.85) good for a tie for 6th ... 3rd on beam (9.8), tying her career second-best score at California ... t-4th on floor at Cal with a 9.825, also a personal-best ... 7th on vault (9.775) with a career-best ... t-5th on beam (9.825) in the UNO's Classic ... placed 6th on beam (9.75) vs. UCLA ... tied for 11th on floor (9.575) at UCLA ... 6th on beam (9.8) vs. Stanford, tying her career-best ... tied for 8th on beam (9.725) vs. No. 2 Utah ... tied for 4th on beam (9.8) vs. UW/USP ... T-7th on beam (9.7) vs. Arizona ... placed 7th on balance beam (9.65) at Boise State.
Tiana Jean (Freshman)
Tied a career-high at the North Central Regional on the bars (9.850), placing seventh ... Placed in a tie for 8th on bars (9.775, season-best) vs. No. 4 Iowa State ... 9.75 on bars at Cal was good for 6th-place ... scored a season-best 9.825 on bars to place T-6th in the UNO's Classic ... placed 17th on bars (9.525) at UCLA ... 10th on bars (9.775) vs. Stanford with a career-best ... was 10th on floor (9.45) vs. Arizona ... placed 5th (9.5) on the floor exercise at Boise State.
Cassandra Jusino (Junior)
At the North Central Regional, tied for 13th on the bars (9.775), finished 41st on the vault (9.300), tied for 11th on the beam (9.800) and tied for 17th on the floor (9.775) ... tied for 16th in the all-around (38.650) at the Regional ... Won the vault competition at No. 19 Denver (9.9) ... placed 4th on vault (9.95) vs. No. 4 Iowa State ... 5th on beam (9.675) at California ... 4th in the all-around (39.275) in the UNO's Classic ... T-3rd on vault (9.825) ... 9th on bars (9.8) ... won floor (9.925) with her season-best ... did not perform well at UCLA ... 2nd in all-around (39.475) vs. Stanford in first all-around of season ... tied for first on floor (9.925) with a season-best ... 2nd on beam (9.875) with a season-best ... 2nd on vault (9.95) with a season-best ... ranked No. 20 nationally in the floor exercise (9.817) ... placed 2nd on floor (9.9) vs. No. 2 Utah ... had her best meet of the season vs. UW/USP, placing 1st on floor (9.9) and tying for 1st on vault (9.9) ... T-5th on bars (9.65) ... was 7th on bars (9.8) and floor (9.65) vs. Arizona ... placed 11th on vault (9.275) and bars (9.2) at Boise State.
Ashley Kelly (Senior, Co-Captain)
Ranked No. 2 nationally in the all-around with a 39.555 mark ... has the nation's best all-around mark (39.875) ... ranked 1st nationally on the balance beam (9.925), T-6th on bars (9.9) and tied for 12th on vault (9.895) .. scored the nation's only 10.0 score on balance beam in 2006 ... won her 22nd all-around title of her career and the North Central Regional championship with a 39.525 mark ... also won a Regional championship on the balance beam (9.900) and tied for the Regional title on the bars (9.900) ... finished third on the vault (9.875) and tied for sixth on the floor (9.850) at the Regional ... tied for 13th on vault (9.825), tied for 5th on bars (9.85), tied for 2nd on beam (9.95) and tied for 7th on floor (9.85) in the Pac-10 Conference Championships ... was 4th in the all-around (39.475) in that meet ... won the 21st career all-around title of her career at No. 19 Denver (39.375) ... highest finish in that meet was a tie for second on beam (9.9) ... won the 20th career all-around title of her brilliant career vs. No. 4 Iowa State with a career-best (tied three times) 39.875 ... that score is the nation's best this year ... won floor (9.95), beam (10.0) and bars (9.95) vs. Iowa State ... her 10.0 on beam was the first 10.0 posted on beam this year nationally ... she was 2nd on vault (9.975) ... won the 19th all-around title of her career at California (39.65) ... won three events there -- vault (9.95), bars (9.9) and beam (9.925) ... finished second on floor at Cal (9.875) ... won the 18th career all-around title with a 39.6 in the UNO's Classic ... 2nd on vault (9.875) ... won bars (9.975), a season-best ... 2nd on beam (9.875) ... T-3rd on floor (9.875) ... 3rd in the all-around at UCLA with a 39.35 ... tied for 1st on beam (9.85) ... 4th on bars (9.85) and T-6th on floor (9.8) at UCLA ... won her 17th career all-around title (39.675) vs. Stanford ... was 1st on vault (9.975-sh) and 1st on beam (9.925-tied season best) ... 2nd on bars (9.875) and 3rd on floor (9.9) vs. Stanford ... won bars (9.95) vs. No. 2 Utah ... 2nd on beam (9.9) in that meet ... T-1st on beam (9.875) vs. UW/USP ... 2nd in the all-around (39.075) ... T-2nd on bars (9.725) in that meet ... won the 16th all-around title of her career vs. Arizona (39.475) ... won beam (9.925) and tied for 1st on bars (9.9) vs. UA ... placed 2nd on vault (9.875) and tied for 3rd on floor (9.775) ... placed 3rd in the all-around (38.6) at Boise State ... finished 2nd (9.7) on floor, 3rd (9.825) on beam and 5th (9.775) on vault at Boise... tied for 23rd (9.825) on beam nationally.
Lisa Lanza (Junior)
Posted a 9.675 on bars in an exhibition vs. No. 4 Iowa State ... scored an 8.675 on bars in an exhibition vs. No. 12 Stanford.
Tia Orlando (Freshman)
Did not compete vs. Stanford, UCLA and in the UNO's Classic, California and Iowa State due to a foot injury ... tied for 6th (9.825) on bars vs. No. 2 Utah ... T-2nd on bars (9.725) vs. UW/USP ... T-6th on vault (9.775) in that meet ... won the vault (9.9) vs. Arizona ... T-3rd on beam (9.75) and for 5th on bars (9.825)vs. UA ... placed 5th (36.95) in the all-around at Boise State ... was 7th on vault (9.725), 9th on bars (9.35), 10th on floor (8.,825) and 12th on beam (9.05).
Lauren Powell (Senior, Co-Captain)
Tied a season-high on the beam (9.800), finishing tied for 11th at the North Central Regional ... tied for 14th on the bars (9.775) and tied for fourth on the vault (9.850) at the Regional ... tied for 2nd on vault at No. 19 Denver with a 9.875 ... t-4th on bars (9.85) vs. No. 4 Iowa State ... season-best 9.75 on beam at California for 4th-place ... 3rd on vault (9.825) at Cal ... t-3rd on vault (9.825) ... season-best 9.875 tied for 4th on bars ... best placing at UCLA was a tie for 7th on beam (9.7) ... 8th on bars (9.775) and t-9th on vault (9.775) at UCLA ... t-5th on vault (9.85-season-best) vs. Stanford ... t-5th on bars (9.825), tying a season-best ... t-6th on vault (9.775) vs. UW/USP ... T-3rd on vault (9.825) vs. Arizona ... T-th on bars (9.825) vs. UA ... placed 2nd on bars (9.725), 4th on vault (9.8) and 5th (tied) on beam (9.675) at Boise State.
Vanessa Rocca (Freshman)
Posted a 9.575 on beam in an exhibition vs. No. 4 Iowa State ... competed for the first time at California and scored 9.05 on floor.
Ashley Toner (Freshman)
Tied for 6th on floor (9.85, career-best) vs. No. 4 Iowa State ... placed 7th on floor (9.7) at California ... 13th on floor (9.6) in UNO's Classic ... placed 10th (9.6) on floor at UCLA ... 9th on floor (9.75) vs. No. 12 Stanford. ... placed 4th on floor (9.825) with a season and career-high vs. No. 2 Utah ... T-6th on floor (9.775) vs. UW/USP ... was 8th on floor (9.625) vs. Arizona ... placed 6th on floor (9.475) at Boise State.
Karissa Vossler (Sophomore)
Tied for 11th on floor (9.575) at UCLA ... scored a 9.15 on floor vs. No. 12 Stanford in an exhibition.