Weekly Release #10
3/5/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
This Week: No. 4 Michigan Hosts No. 13 Denver and Washington
Saturday, March 9 (4 p.m.)
Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Next Week: No. 4 Michigan at Shanico Inn-vitational
Saturday, March 16 (7 p.m. PST)
Gill Coliseum, Corvallis, Ore.
Complete Release in PDF (6 pages, 96 KB)
Wolverines Close Home Portion of Schedule with Senior Night
The No. 4 University of Michigan women's gymnastics team (14-3, 4-0 Big Ten) will honor its five seniors prior to the final home meet of the season against No. 13 Denver and Washington at 4 p.m. on Saturday (March 9) in Crisler Arena. Michigan can finish its home schedule with a perfect record with a first-place finish against the Pioneers and the Huskies. The Wolverines' second-place finish at the UCLA Invitational (March 3) snapped their eight-meet winning streak, but they earned a 196.775, their highest road score of the season.
Free Admission for U-M Credit Union Penny Pioneers
University of Michigan Credit Union Penny Pioneers will receive free admission to Saturday's meet (March 9) by showing their membership cards at the door.
Community Service Calls Wolverines to Elementary Classroom
Members of the team will spend Friday morning (March 8) speaking to children at a Detroit elementary school. The gymnasts will give a short demonstration to the fourth and fifth grade classes at the Vetal Elementary School and then spend the rest of the hour (10:30-11:30 a.m.) in a question-and-answer session with the children. The theme of the presentation is using athletics to gain opportunities in life with a focus toward the young girls at the school. Friday's event is sponsored by K-grams, a mentoring and learning program that pairs up college and elementary school students through a suite of programs. K-grams on the Web: www.umich.edu/~smile.
Five Wolverines Say Goodbye on Senior Night
Michigan's five seniors will be recognized prior to the meet on Saturday (March 9), the final home event of the season. The class of 2002 is made up of Amy Kuczera (Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park HS), Shannon MacKenzie (Midland, Mich./Midland HS), Erin McWatt (Livonia, Mich./Adlai E. Stevenson HS), Melissa Peterson (Shawnee, Kan./Shawnee Mission West HS) and co-captain Jodie Rosenberg (West Bloomfield, Mich./West Bloomfield HS).
Ryals Still Ranked as the Nation's Top All-Around Gymnast
Michigan's Calli Ryals (Elyria, Ohio/Midview HS) is the No. 1 all-around gymnast in the nation for the second consecutive week. Her all-around Regional Qualifying Score of 39.565 is the best in the country and .030 ahead of Georgia's Cory Fritzinger, who is ranked second (39.535). Ryals' all-around score of 39.600, just one quarter of a tenth shy of her career high, at the UCLA Invitational (March 3) helped her hold onto the top spot.
A Look at No. 13 Denver
No. 13 Denver (8-2) brings a four-meet winning streak to Ann Arbor. The Pioneers' eight wins this season include upsets over then-No. 10 Oregon State (Jan. 12) and then-No. 8 Louisiana State (Feb. 16), while their only two losses have come on the road at then-No. 8 Alabama (Jan. 26) and at then-No. 12 Stanford (Feb. 3). The series is tied at 1-1 as DU won 182.90-178.35 in Denver in 1985 and Michigan won 192.25-181.85 at home in 1993. Denver's strongest event is the floor exercise, on which it is tied for No. 21 in the country with an RQS of 49.025. Emily Bankhead is the Pioneers' top all-around gymnast with an RQS of 38.775. Denver is under the direction of head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart, a former U-M assistant (1994-98). Denver on the Web: www.denverpioneers.com.
A Look at Washington
Washington (4-5) and Michigan are meeting for just the second time. The Wolverines placed second (193.200) and the Huskies were third 190.125) at the 1996 Masters Classic in Lincoln, Neb., in the teams' first and only meeting. The Huskies' best event is the floor exercise with an RQS of 48.710. Emily Pritchard is the team's top gymnast and is ranked 21st in the nation with an all-around RQS of 39.105. Washington is under the direction of head coach Bob Levesque. Washington on the Web: www.gohuskies.com.
Michigan Drops in GymInfo Rankings Despite RQS Increase
Michigan's Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) increased to 196.655 but the team fell one spot to fourth in the latest GymInfo rankings (March 4) after UCLA jumped from sixth to third (196.810). Georgia remains the top-ranked team (196.925) for the third consecutive week and Alabama (196.815) is second. The teams will be ranked based on their RQS through the remainder of this season's rankings.
GymInfo National Rankings (3/4/02)
(by Regional Qualifying Score)
1. Georgia 196.925 2. Alabama 196.815 3. UCLA 196.810 4. MICHIGAN 196.655 5. Utah 196.625 6. Nebraska 196.385 7. Oklahoma 196.345 8. Stanford 196.200 9. Minnesota 195.920 10. Iowa State 195.775 11. Louisiana State 195.610 12. Arizona 195.570 13. Denver 195.330 14. Oregon State 195.215 15. Brigham Young 195.185 16. Florida 195.160 17. Arizona State 195.135 18. Kentucky 194.780 19. Iowa 194.665 20. Penn State 194.585 21. Maryland 194.465 22. North Carolina 194.425 23. North Carolina State 194.370 24. Ohio State 194.365 25. Missouri 194.320
Last Weekend at the UCLA Invitational
Elise Ray (Columbia, Md./Wilde Lake HS) earned a 10.0 on the vault to lead Michigan to score of 196.775, is highest road score of the season, and a second-place finish at the UCLA Invitational on Sunday (March 3) at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles. Then-No. 6 UCLA, led by Jamie Dantzscher's 39.900 all-around score that included three perfect 10.0s, won the meet with a school-record 198.350, while No. 9 Minnesota was third (196.200) and California State-Fullerton finished fourth (194.075). In the all-around, Calli Ryals finished third with a total of 39.600, just one quarter of a tenth shy of her career high.
| Place, School | Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | Total |
| 1. UCLA | 49.700 | 49.450 | 49.475 | 49.725 | 198.350 |
| 2. MICHIGAN | 49.600 | 49.225 | 48.750 | 49.200 | 196.775 |
| 3. Minnesota | 49.600 | 49.050 | 48.650 | 48.900 | 196.200 |
| 4. Cal State-Fullerton | 48.275 | 48.825 | 48.125 | 48.850 | 194.075 |
Michigan Vaults to Fifth-Best Mark in School History
With four vaults of 9.900 or better, including a perfect 10.0 by Elise Ray, Michigan totaled 49.600, the fifth-best vault score in school history, at the UCLA Invitational on Sunday (March 3). Shannon MacKenzie and Chelsea Kroll (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny HS) each posted scores of 9.900. For MacKenzie the mark was a career high. Janessa Grieco (Mahopac, N.Y./Carmel HS) tied her season high with a 9.925. In addition to the four 9.900s, Kallie Steffes (Naperville, Ill./Central HS) tied her career high with a 9.875.
Pair of Season Highs Help U-M to Uneven Bars Total
Chris Mantilia (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan HS) tied her season high of 9.800 and Cami Singer (Monument, Colo./Lewis Palmer HS) earned a season-high 9.825 to help the Wolverines to a 49.225 on the uneven bars, the second-highest total this season on the apparatus, at the UCLA Invitational (March 3).
U-M Posts Perfect Dual Meet Record
With no remaining dual meets, Michigan will finish the season with a perfect 7-0 dual meet record. The team rattled off the seven wins over the course of eight meets.
Across the Board
Michigan is ranked as the fourth-best team in the nation on the vault, uneven bars and balance beam and the fifth-best team in the floor exercise. U-M is one of the most consistent teams at the top of the rankings. Georgia is the only team in the country ranked ahead of the Wolverines in each of the four events, as the Bulldogs are No. 1 on the vault, No. 2 in the floor exercise and No. 3 on the uneven bars and balance beam.
Wolverine Lineup Starting to Settle Out
After spending about the first six meets just trying to field a complete lineup, Michigan has started to put together a regular crew. While last-minute changes are inevitable, the squad has gone into the last four meets with a lineup that has potential to remain fairly consistent for the rest of the season.
What a Difference a Year Makes
At this time last season, Michigan was ranked 20th in the nation on the balance beam. The apparatus had cost the team in several meets, including a 196.675-196.625 loss at Georgia (Feb. 10, 2001) in the final rotation. Now, just a year later, Michigan is ranked fourth in the country with a RQS of 49.180 on the beam and has used the solid scores in the event to put together a perfect 7-0 dual meet record this season.
Bring in the Moving Trucks ...
Michigan has collected quite a load of event titles this season. The Wolverines have won 35 of a possible 50 event titles (70 percent) in 10 meets this season. Twice -- at Ohio State (Jan. 26) and against Florida (Feb. 1) -- U-M won all four events and the all-around. Only at the Maui Invitational (Jan. 4) and the UCLA Invitational (March 3) has the team failed to win at least three of the five titles.
... And Send Two Trucks for Ray and Ryals
Elise Ray and Calli Ryals have earned the majority of the team's event titles, combining to win 31 of the 35 event titles. Ray won three titles on three occasions, but it is Ryals who set the mark with four event titles (uneven bars, balance beam, floor exercise and all-around) at the State of Michigan Classic (Feb. 3).
Consistency is Key for Grieco in the Floor Exercise
Junior co-captain Janessa Grieco has been a model of consistency in the floor exercise this season. She has placed among the top five in the event in seven of nine meets this season and has earned a 9.900 or higher six times.
Kuczera on the Rise
Senior Amy Kuczera has increased her score and set a new career high on the balance beam in each of the last three meets she has competed in the event. She earned a 9.825 against Georgia on Feb. 10 and then posted a 9.850 against Utah on Feb. 22. She topped those marks with a 9.875 at the UCLA Invitational on Sunday (March 3).
Another 10.0 for Ray and U-M
Elise Ray earned the second perfect 10.0 of her collegiate career with her effort on the vault last Sunday at the UCLA Invitational (March 3). It was the 25th 10.0 by a U-M gymnast on the vault. Ray earned her first 10.0 on the floor exercise against Southeast Missouri State on Feb. 17, 2001. It was the third perfect 10.0 for a U-M gymnast this season, as Calli Ryals has earned the mark twice on the floor exercise.
Ray in the Record Books
Elise Ray moved sole possession of fifth on the U-M career list for most all-around scores of 39.000 or higher with 15 in her one-plus seasons. Her 15th came in just the 17th meet in which she has competed in the all-around.
Not Just the All-Around for Ryals
Calli Ryals is ranked No. 1 in the all-around for the second consecutive week, but she is also ranked No. 2 in the floor exercise. Her RQS of 9.950 is boosted considerably by the fact that her two perfect scores of 10.0 each came in an away meet. UCLA's Jamie Dantzscher is No. 1 in the floor exercise with a RQS of 10.000.
Being Cal Ripken
Calli Ryals has competed in every event in all 10 meets this season. Not only has she been in the events, but she has been very good in the events. Over the course of the season, Ryals has been in the all-around in each of the 10 meets and placed among the top five 34 times in 40 events, including a stretch of 22 consecutive top-five finishes.
Back in Business
Elise Ray has scored a 9.900 or higher in 12 of the last 16 events in the four meets in which she has competed since returning to the all-around following a foot injury. She has won seven of the 16 events (44 percent), a number that jumps to 10 of 20 (50 percent) when her three all-around titles are added to the mix.
Never Really Out of Business
While her numbers since returning to the all-around have been impressive, Elise Ray posted some equally impressive marks while injured. In the five meets in which she did not compete in the all-around, Ray won five of the 12 events she did compete (42 percent) and placed first or second 10 times (83 percent).
Two Perfect 10s For Ryals
Sophomore Calli Ryals is just the seventh gymnast in U-M history to record two perfect 10 scores in a single season. Her perfect score on the floor exercise at the State of Michigan Classic (Feb. 3) was the 17th perfect score on the floor in Michigan history and the second in three meets for Ryals. She is now tied for sixth with Lisa Simes (1996-99) on the U-M career 10.0 list.
Ray Continues to Dominate Bars
Elise Ray, who set a U-M record with a 9.921 season average on the uneven bars in 2001, continues to dominate the event in 2002. She opened the year with a near-perfect, career-high score of 9.975 to win the event at the Maui Invitational (Jan. 4). She won the bars title with a 9.875 at Ohio State (Jan. 26) and again with a 9.975 against Florida (Feb. 1). She has placed among the top five, with five first-place finishes, in each of Michigan's 10 meets this season, and her RQS of 9.945 is second-best in the nation.
Plocki on Track to Earn 250th Win
Michigan head coach Bev Plocki has a chance to earn her 250th career victory before this season is over. Plocki, who has 241 career wins, can reach the mark at the Big Ten Conference Championships on March 23. Because of the opportunity to earn more than one win at the conference championships, the Wolverines do not need to win the two meets prior to the championships for her to reach the mark.
Bring Them On
Michigan, which opened the season ranked third with three first-place votes in the GymInfo preseason coaches poll, has one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Out of the Wolverines' 12 regular-season meets, 10 of them include at least one team ranked among the top 25 in the GymInfo preseason poll. Including the Big Ten Conference Championships, U-M will face 14 of the other 24 teams in the preseason top 25 at least once during the season.
Wolverines to Host Top Teams from Around the Nation
Michigan will bring in some of the top teams from around the nation in its five home meets this season. Of the six opponents that will visit Ann Arbor in 2002, five -- No. 2 Georgia, No. 5 Utah, No. 7 Florida, No. 14 Denver and No. 19 Washington -- were ranked among the top 20 teams in the nation according to the GymInfo preseason poll.
The Conference Streak
Michigan increased its Big Ten winning streak to 31 consecutive victories over conference opponents by finishing ahead of Minnesota at the UCLA Invitational (March 3). The last time a Big Ten school defeated the Wolverines was Jan. 15, 1999, when Minnesota won 193.550-193.050 at Cliff Keen Arena.
Co-Captains
The 2002 Michigan women's gymnastics team has co-captains leading the squad. Senior Jodie Rosenberg is joined by junior Janessa Grieco as the captains. Rosenberg was a tri-captain in 2001 as a junior.
Contact: Jason Gerdom (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
