Michigan
Minnesota
Weekly Release #2: at Minnesota
1/11/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Upcoming Schedule
Meet #2:Â No. 4 Michigan at No. 14 Minnesota
Sport Facility, Minneapolis, Minn.
Saturday, Jan. 15, 7 p.m. CST
Series:Â Minnesota leads 18-13
Meet #3:Â No. 4 Michigan vs. Michigan State
Cliff Keen Arena, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Thursday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m.
Series:Â Michigan State leads 28-21
Wolverines Travel to Minnesota for Big Ten Opener
The University of Michigan women's gymnastics team continues its two-meet road trip to open the season with a dual meet at Minnesota on Saturday, Jan. 15 (7 p.m. CST). Michigan will be looking to avenge its upset loss at home to Minnesota in 1999, when the seventh-ranked Golden Gophers defeated the fifth-ranked Wolverines 193.550-193.050 in Michigan's home opener.
About Minnesota ...
Minnesota is the preseason 14th-ranked team in the country ... The Golden Gophers opened their 2000 season with a home win over Auburn 194.800-192.450 ... Minnesota placed fourth at the 1999 Big Ten Championships with a score of 194.450, behind champ Michigan, runner-up Penn State and Ohio State ... Sophomore Megan Bueckens won the all-around competition in the win over Auburn with a mark of 39.075 ... Buekens also placed first on the balance beam (9.850) and on the floor exercise (9.900) ... Minnesota on the web:Â www.GopherSports.com.
Michigan Places Third at Super Six Challenge
Michigan entered the 2000 season on one of women's gymnastics biggest stages -- Georgia's Stegeman Coliseum. On national television, in front of a sellout crowd of 9,934 and against five of the top nine teams in the nation at the Super Six Challenge (Jan. 8), the Wolverines delivered a solid performance on their way to a third-place finish with a score of 194.925. Edging out the Wolverines were No. 2 Alabama (195.750) and No. 1 Georgia (195.500). Michigan began the meet with a solid 49.075 on the floor exercise, paced by freshman Janessa Grieco's (Mahopac, N.Y./Carmel HS) 9.900.
The Wolverines then moved on to the vault and uneven bars, where they scored a 48.675 and 49.100, respectively. On both events, Michigan was led by senior All-American Sarah Cain (Grand Island, Neb./Grand Island HS), who registered a 9.850 on the vault and a 9.875 on the uneven bars. Needing a score of 48.900 on the balance beam to win the meet, the Wolverines received a clutch performance from Karina Senior (Markham, Ontario/Milliken Mills HS) (9.825), but fell short with a team score of 48.075.
Grieco Debuts
Competing in a collegiate meet for the first time in her career, Michigan freshman Janessa Grieco delivered in a big way for the Wolverines at the Super Six Challenge. Grieco finished in the top 10 on both the floor exercise and balance beam, with scores of 9.900 and 9.775, respectively. In fact, Grieco's 9.900 on the floor exercise, which was the first routine of her career, landed her in a tie for second place, which was Michigan's highest individual placement. Grieco's 9.775 on the balance beam was good for a tie for sixth, while she also competed on the vault and delivered a score of 9.650.
Other Michigan Debuts
While Janessa Grieco had an outstanding collegiate debut, she was just one of five Wolverines making their collegiate debuts on a total of nine routines at the Super Six Challenge. Other freshmen competing for Michigan were Cami Singer (Monument, Colo./Lewis Palmer HS) and Tara Tagliarino (Tampa, Fla./H.B. Plant HS). Singer competed on the floor exercise (9.800) and balance beam (9.775), placing sixth on the beam, while Tagliarino competed on the uneven bars (9.825). Also debuting for the Maize and Blue were sophomores Jodie Rosenberg (West Bloomfield, Mich./West Bloomfield HS) and Amy Kuczera (Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park HS). Rosenberg delivered a 9.800 on the floor exercise, while Kuczera competed on the vault (9.625) and uneven bars (9.800).
Career Best for Peterson
Michigan sophomore Melissa Peterson (Shawnee, Kan./Shawnee Mission West HS) competed on the floor exercise at the Super Six Challenge for the Wolverines and delivered a career-best 9.825. Peterson competed on the floor exercise for just the second time in her career after scoring a 9.625 vs. Minnesota in 1999.
First Time for Senior
Michigan junior Karina Senior competed in the all-around for the first time in her career at the Super Six Challenge. In fact, it was Senior's first-ever appearances on the floor exercise, vault and uneven bars. Senior notched an all-around mark of 37.525, which was buoyed by a team-best 9.825 on the balance beam, an event in which she was a first-team All-American in 1999. Senior also scored a 9.650 on the vault, an 8.300 on the uneven bars and a 9.750 on the floor exercise.
Looking to Break the String
Michigan heads to Minnesota on Saturday, (Jan. 15) looking for its first win in a dual meet at Minnesota since 1992, when the Wolverines won 189.350-189.250. Since then Minnesota is 2-0 at home in dual meets vs. the Wolverines, with wins in 1996 (191.125-190.325) and 1998 (192.800-190.400).
Super Six Challenge on ESPN
The Super Six Challenge, which featured six of the top nine teams in the nation, was televised by ESPN and will air twice on a tape delay basis. The meet will air Sunday, Jan. 16 (3 p.m.) on ESPN2 and again a week later on Sunday, Jan. 23 (2 p.m.) on ESPN.
Rosella Retires
Michigan sophomore Kristin Rosella (Ann Arbor, Mich./Greenhills HS) has retired from gymnastics. The Wolverine sophomore did not compete as a freshman.
Knaeble Limited
Due to a injured foot, Michigan junior All-American Bridget Knaeble (New Hope, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) was limited to competing on just the uneven bars. Once healthy, Knaeble is a possibility to be in the all-around lineup. Knaeble delivered a 9.800 on the uneven bars.
Cain Moving Up the Charts
Sarah Cain's eight All-America citations ties her for third on Michigan's all-time list with Heather Kabnick (1995-98). Wendy Marshall (1993-96) is second on the list with 10 All-America honors, while Beth Wymer (1992-95) heads the list with 14 All-America honors earned.
| 1. | Beth Wymer (1992-95) | 14 |
| 2. | Wendy Marshall (1993-96) | 10 |
| 3. | Sarah Cain (1997-present) | 8 |
| Heather Kabnick (1995-98) | 8 | |
| 5. | Nikki Peters (1996-99) | 6 |
Tri-Captains
The 2000 University of Michigan women's gymnastics team has tri-captains leading the squad. Senior Sarah Cain is joined by juniors Bridget Knaeble and Brianne Fuller (West Bowdoin, Maine/Mount Ararat HS). Cain was a tri-captain in 1999 as a junior as well.
GymInfo Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Georgia (17) 854 2. Alabama (7) 825 3. UCLA (6) 816 4. MICHIGAN (5) 806 5. Utah (1) 770 6. Nebraska 680 7. Arizona State 644 8. Penn State 590 9. Florida 584 10. Louisiana State 584 11. Stanford 577 12. Oregon State 431 13. North Carolina State 354 14. Minnesota 345 15. Denver 315 16. Arizona 283 17. West Virginia 276 18. Maryland 264 19. Washington 250 20. Ohio State 245 21. Utah State 241 22. Iowa State 189 23. Brigham Young 108 24. Auburn 97 25. Oklahoma 70
Players Mentioned
