2005 WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS
SEASON PREVIEW Super Sophs Pace Titans as 30th Year Kicks Off Jan. 4, 2005 – Fullerton, Calif.
Traditionally, the 30th wedding anniversary means someone’s
getting pearls. What that translates into gymnastics-wise no one knows.
However, as the Cal State Fullerton gymnastics team heads into its 30th
season of competition, seventh-year Head Coach Julie Knight-Bowse (who,
recently, was married herself... note the theme) would be happy with yet
another pearl of a season, a trip to the NCAA Regionals, and a chance
to shine on the national stage.
Just as a pearl begins with something as simple as a grain of sand, this
season for the Titans will be similar, as Fullerton will have to get back
to basics in its quest for a fifth consecutive postseason appearance.
“Once again our goal will be to qualify for the regional championships,”
Knight-Bowse said. “Vault and bars are improved, but lack depth
due to injuries to a couple of our athletes.
“Beam is deep, but slightly inexperienced. We return three of our
best athletes in the event in (Nicole) Lim, (Annette) Reyes and (Brittany)
Evans, but the other 3 spots being up for grabs. Floor will once again
be our strongest event.”
Cal State Fullerton returns 10 gymnasts from last season’s squad,
the largest class of which will be its group of seven “Super Sophs,”
who performed well in the clutch as collegiate rookies in 2004 and will
now be looked upon to take it up a notch and anchor the squad in 2005.
It all starts at the top, however, as the Titans will look to their lone
senior to carry the torch into the 2005 campaign. All-arounder Reyes competed
in all 11 meets for Fullerton last season, winning the all-around twice
and averaging just under 9.80 for the season on the floor exercise –
traditionally the strongest event for the Titans.
“Annette is recovering from ankle surgery over the summer, but even
with limited pre season training, her experience will be a major plus
for this team,” Knight-Bowse said. “I am counting on consistent
performances from her on bars and beam. Floor and vault are questionable
depending on how the ankles hold up.”
The junior class will be anchored by all-arounder Brittany Hoffman and
bars specialist Brooke Weigandt. Hoffman missed five meets last season
after suffering a back injury during an awkward bars dismount in the second
meet of the year. However, she returned to compete mostly on vault and
bars, scoring a career-high 9.70 on vault against Sacramento State and
a season-high 9.70 on bars against Seattle Pacific.
Weigandt was one of the most consistent performers in a depleted bars
lineup for the Titans last season. She averaged just 9.51 for the season,
but scored better than 9.70 four times, including a season-high 9.775
against Western Gymnastics Conference rival Boise State.
Junior Ashlee Hegner is a vault specialist who will battle for a top six
spot in the rotation. She topped 9.70 on the apparatus three times last
season, including a career-high 9.75 twice in her final three meets of
the year.
Jennifer Beltz will add depth to the Titans’ bars lineup. Beltz
made her first career appearance last season in the opener against nationally-ranked
California.
Despite just one season of collegiate competition under their belts, the
seven Titan sophomores will be looked upon to perform like seasoned veterans
if Fullerton is to succeed in 2005.
“Our sophomores are likely to make up at least half of the line
up on every event,” Knight-Bowse said. “Brittany Evans will
be added to the bars lineup after an injury kept her out last season and
Jaime Howe worked hard all summer to improve her routine and will add
depth to our beam lineup.”
The second-year class is led by Erica Ficarrotta, who was the Titans’
best all-arounder last season. Ficarrotta won the all-around competition
three times, including winning Western Gymnastics Conference Athlete of
the Week honors after a career-best 39.125 in Fullerton’s upset
of No. 3 UCLA.
Brittany Evans competed mostly on beam and floor in 2004, but will add
bars to her repertoire in her second year. Evans averaged better than
9.70 on beam, including a career-high 9.90 against Sacramento State and
UC Davis. She scored 9.85 on the beam at the conference championships
to earn all-conference honors.
Nicole Lim, who turned 18 years old in October, is also a strong all-around
contender for the Titans, earning conference athlete of the week honors
after her 38.975 against Boise State in a Titan victory. She competed
mostly on beam and floor, notching career high’s of 9.825 and 9.875
on those apparatus, respectively.
Ina Higashi-Izumi was a bars specialist in her rookie season, but is battling
injury and may miss the start of the year after dislocating her elbow
in fall practice.
Higashi-Izumi scored a career-high 9.775 against Sacramento State and
had scores of 9.70 or better in five of her last eight meets.
Jaime Howe is another bars specialist from last season who will also see
time in the beam lineup in 2005. Howe scored a career-high 9.85 at the
Western Gymnastics Conference championships to finish tied for third in
the event and earn all-conference honors.
A pair of sophomores will also return to the Titans after a year’s
absence. Kristen Weigandt and Caitlin Wheeler are both juniors academically,
but Weigandt missed all of 2004 after shoulder surgery and looks to be
out for much of 2005 after re-injuring her shoulder last spring.
Wheeler missed all of 2004 after a bone infection which was thought as
career-ending by the coaching staff. However, she is fully recovered for
2005 and is vying for a spot on both the vault and floor teams.
The roster features five newcomers in Shannon Hong, Ayumi Mori, Melissa
Schafer, Tiffany Schramm, and Amanda Van Horn. All are expected to add
depth on each event.
“Our freshmen will have a limited impact on the line up,”
Knight-Bowse. “Likely to make the line up are Amanda Van Horn on
vaulting, Tiffany Schramm on floor and Melissa Schafer has a shot on vault,
beam and floor. Shannon Hong could possibly come in mid-season on vault
and bars.”
