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Show StatesmanSportS Monday, Ian. 5, 2009 Page 9 GYMNASTICS Aggies gear up for 2009 season By CONNER JONES sen/or sports writer The USU women's gymnastics team is back and they have a few things to prove. With six returning letter-winners, a new coach and a full season ahead of them, the Aggies are out to win. Named as only the second head coach in USU's 31-year Division I gymnastics history, Jeff Richards takes over the reigns from Ray Corn. Corn had been the coach since 1977, the same year Star Wars debuted, Elvis Presley died and a gallon of gas cost less than .70 cents. Richards graduated frorn Logan High in 1988, after which he became a student-assistant for USU s gymnastic team. He transferred to Southern Utah University in 1990 where in 1995, as a student and an assistant coach, he earned his bachelor'sdegree in physical education. He stayed on as an assistant coach until 1998. From 19982004 Richards was head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Stout and was head coach at Winona State University from 2004-05 before he joined Iowa's coaching staff in 2005. In each of his six seasons as coach of Wisconsin-Stout his team broke their season's best record. As an assistant coach for Iowa, Richards was the main bars coach as well as the spotter for each event. He was responsible for travel arrangements, scheduling and equipment for the Hawkeyes as well. In the 2000 season the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association named Richards Coach of the Year. While at Wisconsin-Stout he also earned the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year Award twice. The sport of gymnastics received worldwide attention last summer, like it does every four years, with the return of the Summer Olympics. The American people obsessed with their best chances for gymnastics gold, Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin, and instantly took to the inspirational story of alternate turned Olympic bronze medalist Raj Bhavsar. Lyndsie Boone, sophomore gymnast from Winthrop Harbor, 111., said she hopes the excitement for the sport of Gymnastics is still around. "Not many people know as much about gymnastics as they do, say, football or basketball, but gymnastics is extremely fun to watch, and I think USU fans will really enjoy our meets," said Boone. "We're trying hard to get involved in the community and to recruit as many students as possible to get interested in USU gymnastics." Last season USU finished in third place at the WAC championship, but in this year's WAC preseason coaches poll USU was voted tied for fourth place putting every WAC team but Sacramento State ahead of the Aggies. Boone said this year has been a big transition as adjusting to a new coaching staff, losing a few girls from last season and bringing on four new competing freshmen isn't easy to do. "I would say that being tied for fourth in the poll is realistic for now," said Boone. "This way, as we continue to grow as a team and get some injuries worked out throughout season, we will be able to surprise people and work our way up." "The WAC is a talented league from top to bottom," Richards said. "Last season's WAC meet was decided by a couple of tenths of points from first through sixth, so the WAC teams are always going to be tough competition. This gives us a great starting point S E N I O R N I C K I FELLEY completes a routine on the uneven bars during a competition against Boise State last season in the Spectrum. TYLER LARSON photo which we can build upon throughout the season as we strive for a conference championship." This year's squad is hoping to build on last season's 6-18 overall record. The six returners include three all-WAC honorees, sophomore Nicole Simoneau, junior Heather Heinrich and senior Nicki Felley. Last year's team didn't qualify for the NCAA North Central Regional Gymnastics meet but they did send six individuals, including four returning to this year's squad, Simoneau, Heinrich, Felley and Boone. This season starts off Jan. 10 at Kentucky followed by their first home meet in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Jan. 16, against Central Michigan. -c. h ,j@aggiemail. usu. edit Best: Career highs for many players [1 continued from page 8 Spectrum on Dec 16. Utah State had strong performances by Snelgro who had a career high tying 17 points and Whjtehead who had 12 points and nine rebounds. Utah State didn't lead in the game until the second half. The game was evenly matched with both teams making 25 shots, and the Vikings having a slight rebound advantage 41-38. It was a late 21-5 run by the Vikings that hurt the Aggies, and USU would not get closer than six-points the rest of the game. The Aggies halted their two game skid with a dominating 52-37 win against Southern Utah in Logan on Dec. 20. After going down by five points to start the game Utah State scored 10 unanswered points and never trailed again. The Aggies went into halftime with a 27-19 lead. Southern Utah brought it to within one point with 13:19 left in the game, but Utah State answered with an 11-2 run to seal the victory. Utah State dominated the glass with a 48-34 rebounding advantage, including a season high 27 offensive rebounds. The Aggies also had a seasonhigh 16 steals, and forced the Thunderbirds into a seasonhigh 27 turnovers. Instate rival Weber State gave the Aggies a close game, but in the end Utah State prevailed with a 44-41 win on Dec. 22. With the win Utah State was 6-5 on the season. The game in Ogden was delayed an hour due to bad weather, but once it started the Aggies quickly took control led by Snelgro's career-high 19 points. Pares was close behind her with 17 points, and Johnson's careerhigh 11 rebounds complimented four blocks. Pares led the Aggies in the second half with 13 points, while Whitehead added four. Weber State got within two late in the game, but Pares answered with a timely three pointer to seal the victory for the Aggies. A trip to sunny Las Vegas turned sour when the Aggies lost to UNLV 65-47 on Dec. 30. Three Aggies scored in double digits, Snelgro had 14 points, Pares had 11, and Whitehead finished with 10. Snelgro and Whitehead combined to score the Aggies first 12 points. UNLV jumped out to a quick nine-point lead, and would hold the lead going into halftime with a score of 30-22. UNLV started the second half where they left off going on an 11-0 run to take a 16point lead. The Lady Rebels dominated the Aggies in rebounding 49-33, and free throw shooting 16-of-24, while the Aggies went 3-of-5 from the charity stripe. The loss dropped the Aggies to 66 heading into the new year. Playing their second instate rival during the break the Aggies could not overcome the high powered Utah Valley offense and fell 84-79 in Orem. The Aggies entered this game having allowed only 54 points per game in their previous 12 games. The 84 points scored by the Wolverines was the most so far this season. Robyn Fairbanks led Utah Valley with 33 points, while Pares led the Aggies with her career-high 25. The 79 points scored by Utah State was also the highest so far this season. Halftime came with the Aggies trailing by three, 4037. The 37 first half points were the most in a half by the Aggies this season. The second half saw four ties until the 12:00 minute mark when the Wolverines would take the lead for good. The Aggies came within three a number of times, but could never regain the lead. The Aggies continue their four-game road trip tonight in Moscow, Idaho with tip off at 8 p.m. -p. d, k@aggiemailusu.edu A N A PARES drives to the basket during a game against Northern Arizona earlier in the season. PATRICK ODEN photo mm TONIGHT vs. Idaho 7PM 'EE GLEN SMITH SPECTRUM Admission is FREE with fe I USU Student ID! WWW i es.com |