University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

Page 189 text:

Sports Information By Michelle McCombs Starting the season on the road against rival Ohio State, the women ' s gymnastic team took its first win - defending both the Big Ten Conference and NCAA Central Regional titles. The Wolverines were pegged as the preseason favorites to win both crowns and ranked fourth in the preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll. In the 1996-97 season, Michigan won its sixth consecutive Big Ten Champi- onship and proceeded to break the school record .scoring a 197.70 team total to claim the NCAA Central Re- gional Championship. Heading into the season Michigan viewed Minne- sota, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Penn State as its biggest challengers for the Big Ten title. Afterthe Wolverines ' firstwin against the Buckeyes, Michigan Head Coach Bev Plocki stated, We have plenty ' of room for improvement, but I was pleased with the victory considering this was our first meet of the year. Add the fact that this performance came on the road, while integrat- ing new gymnasts into the lineup and competing without the services of Big Ten Gymnast of the Year Sarah Cain at full strength and Nikki Peters not competing at all. We achieved a team victory and overcame some big obstacles. We achieve! andovercai stacles. Michigan suffered its first defeat to Minnesota, the team ' s first loss to a Big Ten team since losing to the Golden Gophers on Mar. 1, 1996 at the Shanica Invitational. Injuries prevented senior Heath er Kabnick to compete against Minnesota and restricted sophomore Sarah Cain to perform only on the uneven bars. Freshman Bridget Knaebleshined at the competition, finishing first in the all-around with a 38.500 score. During the State of Michigan Classic Kabnick won her second all- around title of the season, scored a season-best 9.925 to win the floor exer- cise, placed second on the vault and tied for fifth on the uneven bars. Junior Lisa Simes was the runner-up to Kabnick for all-around, carrying two season-bests of a third-place finish on the floor exercise and a fourth-place performance on the uneven bars. Play- ing through a heel injury, Cain won the vault competition with her first action vault of the season and tied for fourth on the floor. The Wolverines were faced with the difficult task of defend- ing the titles the team had earned in the previous season. With a title to defend, Michigan focused their efforts on success. photo courtesy of Sports Information ienior Heather Kabnick shows off her floor excercise routine at the UCLA Invitational meet. Kabnick won Ail-American honors for her floor exercise routine as well as being named Big Ten Champion for her vault and floor excercise program. Q; Uf Big :esy of Sports Information photo courtesy of Sports Information unior Beth Amelkovich performs a handstand on the balance beam at the Big Ten Championship meet. Amelkovich won Ail-American honors for her balance beam performance and also garnered the ig Ten Championship on the beam. Women ' s Gymnastics 181

Page 188 text:

; ophomore Sarah Cain performs her balance beam routine. Cain was selected as a NCAA First-Team All-American for her performances on the J uneven bars for the 1997 season. photo courtesy of Sports Information Front Row: Christine Michaud, Karina Senior; Row 2: Sarah-Elizabeth Langford, Bridget Knaeble, Brianne Fuller, Kate Nellans; Row 3: Lisa Simes, Kristin Duff, Nikki Peters, Sarah Cain, Kathy Burke; Row 4: Heather Kabnick, Beth Amelkovich, Lauren LaBranche. SCOREBOARD Overall: 9-5 Big 1 9 at Ohio State 1 17 at Minnesota 1 23 Utah 1 25 at Georgia with Arizona 1 31 State Classic Michigan State Central Michigan Western Michigan 2 7 UCLA Invitational UCLA Stanford Cornell 2 15 Kentucky 2 28 Georgia 3 6 Michigan State 3 14 Massachusettes 3 21 Big Ten Championships Michigan State Minnesota Iowa Illinois Penn State Ohio State 4 4 NCAA Regionak 4 16 NCAA Championships scores not available at press time Ten: 3-1 W L W Second First Second Third Fourth Third First Second Fourth W L W The Lady Wolverines sing Hail to the Victors while standing on the champions ' platform after winning the Regional Title at the 1997 NCAA Central Regionals. ThewinpropelledMichigan ' swomen ' sgymnastics program into the NCAA forefront. 180 Sports

Page 190 text:

s ophomore Joe DeGain struggles to free his leg and avoid a takedown. Matches were often decided on few points and a single takedown often proved the difference. 1 .: . Mark Woily I T MarkWolly Irying to escape from the down position, sophomore Jason Rawls begins the second period by choosing to try to get free. 182 Sports SCOREBOARD Overall 7-9 Big Ten 4-4 11 15-16 at Michigan State Open 1 2 5-6 at Cliff Keen Las Vegas Classic 12 10 Michigan State 12 30-31 at Oregon Classic 1 1 at Oregon State 1 4 at Reno Tournament of Champions 1 4 vs. Arizona State 1 4 vs. Oklahoma State 1 9 at Penn State 1 10 atLehigh 1 10 vs. Hofstra 1 10 vs. Lehigh 1 17-18 at Cliff Keen National Team Duals 1 17 First Round vs. West Virginia 1 17 Consolations vs. Missouri Valley 1 17 Consolations vs. Nebraska 1 23 at Northwestern 1 24 at Illinois 2 4 at Michigan State 2 6 Ohio State 2 7 Purdue 2 14 at Minnesota 2 20 Indiana 3 7-8 at Big Ten Championships Fourth Cancelled First W W L L L L L W L W W L W L L L Fourth 3 19-21 at NCAA Championships scores not available at press time