April 10, 2007

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This Week --
The Arizona State women's gymnastics team returns to Tucson, Ariz., to compete in its twenty-sixth consecutive NCAA regional. The Sun Devils, under 27th-year head coach John Spini, return 12 gymnasts to the squad. After finishing ninth at last year's Championships and taking first in the North Central Regional, Spini and the Sun Devils look to compete in the NCAA Championships again this season. Spini is currently ASU's longest-tenured head coach, and is second on the all-time Sun Devil head coaching list. Former Sun Devil women's tennis coaching legend Anne Pittman holds the distinction as the longest-tenured ASU head coach at 31 seasons. Spini's regular-season record is now 318-125-2. His won-loss record at home is 170-30-1.

26 in Row---
The Arizona State women's gymnastics team has been selected to compete in the South Central Regional Championships held in Tucson, Ariz., on Saturday April 14th at 6:00 p.m. PT. This is the Sun Devils twenty-sixth consecutive NCAA regional bid. Last season the Sun Devils won the North Central Regional, their first regional victory since 1987, with a 196.675.

Pac-10 Championships Part II?---
The Sun Devils will compete against three familiar faces as Pacific-10 Conference rivals No. 1 Stanford, No. 2 Oregon State, and host No. 3 Arizona are competing in the South Central Regional. No. 4 Illinois and No. 6 Illinois-Chicago are also making the trip to Tucson.

Sophomore Nicole Harris made the All-Conference team in the all-around.

Dynamic Duo---
Arizona State University senior gymnast April Boone and sophomore Nicole Harris have been selected to the 2007 Pacific-10 All-Conference Women's Gymnastics team. This is the first time either student-athlete has been named to the All-Pac-10 Team.

Harris was selected to the all-around team. The sophomore All-American from Long Beach, N.Y., tied for third in the all-around at the Pac-10 Conference Championships this past weekend. She is currently ranked 26th nationally in the all-around with an RQS of 39.300. She has won two all-around competitions this season, both on the road.

Boone made the All-Conference team on the balance beam. The senior captain from Seattle, Wash., scored her first perfect 10.0 on beam this past season. Her perfect score is the only one recorded nationally so far this season on beam. She holds an RQS of 9.865. Boone was also named Pac-10 Gymnast of the Week for the week of March 13-19 for her superb performance against Arkansas.

ASU In The Rankings --
The Arizona State women's gymnastics team was ranked 11th in the Preseason Coaches' Poll released by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches. The Sun Devils are just out of the Top 25 this week and are currently ranked 26th. ASU is ranked 22nd on beam. Individually, All-Pac-10 honorees April Boone and Nicole Harris are both ranked. Boone is currently ranked 19th on floor, while Harris is ranked 22nd on beam.

Scouting No. 1 Stanford---
Stanford finished the regular season ranked fourth nationally. The Cardinal finished second at the Pac-10 Championships. The Cardinal are currently ranked 10th on vault, fourth on bars, fifth on beam and sixth on floor. Freshman Carly Janiga is ranked 20th in the all-around and seventh on bars. Tabitha Yim is ranked fifth on bars.

Scouting No. 2 Oregon State---
The Beavers ended the regular season tied for eighth nationally after placing third at the Pac-10 Championships. OSU is currently ranked ninth on vault, 12th on bars, ninth on beam and seventh on floor. Individually, Jami Lanz is ranked eighth in the all-around, 23rd on bars, 13th on beam and 16th on floor. Tasha Smith is ranked 22nd in the all-around and 14th on vault. Mandi Rodriguez is currently ranked eighth on vault.

Scouting No. 3 Arizona---
Host Arizona, is ranked 15th in the April 2nd poll after taking fourth place at the Pac-10 Championships. The Wildcats are 10th on floor, 14th on beam, 21st on bars, and 16th on vault. Individually, Karin Wurm is ranked 21st in the all-around and seventh on bars nationally, while Danielle Hicks is ranked 22nd on beam.

Scouting No. 4 Illinois---
Illinois finished the regular season ranked 20th in the nation and a third place finish at the Big Ten Championships. The Fighting Illini are also currently ranked 21st on beam and 13th on bars. Cara Pomeroy is also ranked seventh on bars.

Scouting No. 6 Illinois-Chicago---
Illinois-Chicago finished the season ranked 36th nationally. The Flames are making their second consecutive regional appearance after winning the Midwest Independent Championship.

Senior April Boone garnered All-Conference honors for beam.

Starting Out on Floor---
The Sun Devils will start the regional on floor. They then move to vault, followed by a bye before moving to bars. The Devils finish the night on beam

Injury Update --
The Sun Devils have been plagued with injuries this season. Sophomore Tia Orlando will not compete this season due to rehabilitating a torn ACL. Junior Josie Hancock is retiring from gymnastics due to chronic injuries.

The Sun Devils suffered a devastating loss when senior all-arounder Lauren Powell tore her anterior cruciate ligament while practicing beam. The senior has been one of the most consistent on the all-around this season and has also posted one of the season-high scores on bars this year as well. "We are very devastated as a team for Lauren," head coach John Spini said, "The other girls are going to need to step up."

2007 Results --
3/31: Pacific-10 Championships: The Sun Devils finished sixth at the Pac-10 Championships with a score of 194.550. Nicole Harris finished third in the all-around with a season-high 39.450 and on beam with a 9.925. She also scored a season-best 9.900 on bars to finish fourth. Cassandra Jusino tied for third on vault with a season-high 9.925.

3/23: at Utah: The Arizona State women's gymnastics team posted its highest away score of the season, but were defeated 196.650-194.950 by the No. 5 Utah Utes. Sophomore Nicole Harris placed third in the all-around with a score of 39.375 and senior Cassandra Jusino took fourth with a 39.150. April Boone scored a 9.875 on vault, beam and floor, while Harris tied her season-high on bars with a 9.875. Tiana Jean scored a career-best 9.825 on floor.

3/16: vs. Arkansas: April Boone won her third straight all-around competition with a career-best 39.600 on Senior Night, but the No. 23 Sun Devils were defeated 196.175-195.125 by No. 11 Arkansas. Boone also came in first on vault, bars, and floor and second on beam. She scored 9.900 in every event. The Devils posted the highest bar score of the season with a 49.125. Nicole Harris came in second with a season-best 9.875. Tiana Jean recorded two career-bests on beam (9.850) and floor (9.800).

3/11: at Cal-State Fullerton: Despite April Boone taking first in the all-around, the No. 21 Sun Devils fell to Cal-State Fullerton 193.175-193.550 in front of a crowd of 150. Boone took first in the all-around with a 39.350. Nicole Harris finished third with a 38.450. Boone won floor with a 9.900 and tied with Harris for first on beam with a 9.875. Cassandra Jusino tied for second on floor with a 9.875. Boone and Lisa Lanza also tied for second on bars with 9.800. Lanza's score maks her career-high in the event.

3/2: vs. Washington: In a night highlighted by career-highs, the Sun Devils defeated Washington 196.525-194.450 in front of a season-record crowd of 2,008. Senior April Boone scored her first career 10.00 on beam. The senior also won floor (9.925) and the all-around (39.475). The Sun Devils scored the highest team beam score in the nation, thus far this season with a 49.575. Cassandra Jusino came in second behind Boone on beam with a career-high 9.950. Sophomores Ashlee Hinkle (9.900), Ashley Toner (9.900) and Tiana Jean (9.825) also posted career-highs on the apparatus. Nicole Harris posted a career-best 9.900 to take second on vault. The sophomore also took second on vault (9.875), bars (9.850) and third in the all-around 39.225.

2/23: at Arizona: Despite having the two top finishers in the all-around, Arizona State fell to No. 13 Arizona 195.000-193.975. Nicole Harris finished first in the all-around with a 39.125 and Cassandra Jusino placed second with a 39.0. Harris also won bars, tying her season-high of 9.850 and placed second on beam with a 9.850. Ashlee Hinkle won beam with a season-high 9.875. Jusino tied for first on floor with a 9.850 and April Boone placed second on vault with a 9.825.

2/9: UNO's Classic: The 21st ranked Sun Devils placed second at the UNO's Classic with a season-high score of 196.275. April Boone won vault with a season-high 9.850 and also took first on floor with a career-best 9.950. Nicocle Harris won beam with a career-high 9.950. Senior Cassandra Jusino was close behind Harris, with a career-high 9.950. Jusino also placed second in the all-around with 39.400. Harris took third with a 39.350, Boone fourth (39.250), and Powell fifth (39.125). Powell tied for second on bars, tying her season-high 9.850. Powell also scored a season-high on beam (9.850) and floor (9.825). Ashlee Hinkle also scored a season-high 9.850 on beam.

2/2: at Oregon State -- No. 17 Arizona State fell to No. 16 Oregon State 195.825-193.300. Nicole Harris had a stellar meet, placing first in the all-around with a 39.400. The returning All-American also took first on bars (9.850) and beam (9.875), posting season-best scores on both events. She also tied for first on vault with a career-best 9.900. Lauren Powell scored a season-best 9.875 on vault to place third. She also recorded a season-high on the floor with a 9.800. April Boone continued to show her consistency on beam with a 9.850. Boone also scored 9.775 on vault and bars. Cassndra Jusino scored another 9.775 on the beam.

1/26: vs. UCLA -- The Sun Devils posted a season-high 195.275 in their loss against No. 6 UCLA. April Boone placed first on floor with a season-high 9.9 and placed second in the all-around (39.350). She also tied for second on vault (9.825) and beam (9.825). Lauren Powell took first on vault (9.85). Ashlee Hinkle tied with Boone for second on beam with a 9.825. Nicole Harris also tied for second on floor with a season-high 9.85 and tied with teammates Boone and Cassandra Jusino for second on vault (9.825). Jusino took third in the all-around (39.200).

1/19: at Stanford -- ASU scored a 193.075 in its season opening loss against the Cardinal. Lauren Powell placed third (39.050) in her first all-around competition since the 2005 season. April Boone posted a 9.850 on both beam and floor placing third in both those events. Cassandra Jusino scored a 9.850 on vault to tie for second place.