Michigan State University Athletics
Gymnastics Primes For 2005 Season Opener
1/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Jan. 6, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State is primed for success in its season opener, as the Spartans host Ball State, Denver and Louisiana State in their first meet of the year. Competition is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 7 and will take place in Jenison Field House.
GREEN AND WHITE EXHIBITION Michigan State took the floor for an interteam exhibition on Saturday, Dec. 18.
HEAD COACH Kathie Klages Klages, named 2004 Big Ten co-coach of the year, has become a fixture in Spartan athletics over the course of her 14-year tenure at Michigan State. Entering her 15th season in 2005, Klages celebrates one of the most successful seasons in the history of her program and looks to extend last season's victories into another season of high scores and near-perfect performances.
A YOUNG COACHING STAFF Under the leadership of veteran head coach Kathie Klages and with support from second-year assistant coach Sam Buchalter, Michigan State gymnastics features a host of fresh faces on its 2005 coaching staff.
Katie Teft joined the Spartans as an assistant coach in August, 2004 and has brought a wealth of domestic and international experience to the team in helping MSU prepare for a spectacular 2005 season. Teft graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 2003.
Also joining the program is volunteer assistant coach Duane Haring, a nine-year coach at the club level and three-year head coach at Grand Ledge High School in Grand Ledge, Mich.
SPARTAN LEADERSHIP... Senior Anna Hunsinger and Junior Sarah Alexander return as team captains in 2005, joined by senior Nicole (Anderson) June. All three are seasoned Spartan gymnasts and proven leaders, sure to contribute to team success in 2005.
SETTING THEIR SIGHTS HIGH There is one feat in particular that MSU has yet to accomplish in head coach Kathie Klages' tenure; a trip to the NCAA National Championship. MSU came close last year and posted a fifth-place finish at NCAA Regionals against a tough slate of competition. The Spartans hope that this year's squad will make Green and White history by earning a bid to the Big Show in 2005.
SOLID RETURNEES AND FRESH FACES... The 2005 Michigan State squad is characterized by depth in 2005. The one senior on State's 2004 team, Lindsey Voth, did not compete due to injury, so MSU returns all of its active competitors from last year. In addition, five Spartan freshmen join the team in 2005.
A QUICK LOOK AT MICHIGAN STATE'S SPARTANS
2004 Record: 18-10-1
2004 Big Ten finish: Fifth
Letterwinners returning/lost: 13/1
Newcomers: 5
Head Coach Kathie Klages is 233-112-3 in 14 years at Michigan State.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION...
BALL STATE CARDINALS
2004 Record: 4-9 (1-5 MAC)
2004 MAC finish: 7th
Letterwinners returning/lost: 8/4
Newcomers: 5
Head Coach Mary Roth is 157-177 in 19 years at Ball State.
DENVER PIONEERS
2004 Record: 10-12
2004 North Central Regional finish: 3rd
Letterwinners returning/lost: 7/6
Newcomers: 6
Head Coach Melissa Kutcher is 106-48 in six years at Denver.
SCOUTING NO. 8 LOUISIANA STATE
2004 Record: 22-9 (3-3 SEC)
2004 NCAA Central Regional finish: 1st
Letterwinners returning/lost: 13/2
Newcomers: 4
Head Coach Sara "D-D" Breaux is 450-279-7 in 28 seasons at LSU.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Ranked 27th in pre-season polls, a top-25 spot in the polls is definitely within Michigan State's grasp this season.
COACH'S CORNER After a grueling preseason, head coach Kathie Klages prepares to lead her team in its first regular-season meet. Klages, entering her 15th year at the helm of Spartan gymnastics, speculates on the upcoming season:
On the team's greatest strengths in 2005: "One of our greatest strengths this season will lie in our team's experience. We have all of our active members from last year returning. We have really improved, with regard to performance consistency. With the addition of a strong freshman class, I believe that we are going to greatly improve our team's standings, regionally and nationally."
On Michigan State's 2005 schedule: "I am really excited about our schedule this year. We are competing against quite a few top-ranked teams in the country."
On the Spartan showing at the Green and White exhibition meet in December: "I am thrilled about what the team accomplished at the Green and White exhibition meet. Despite a long finals week and a difficult pre-season, everyone really rose to the occasion. The injuries situtaion has been a setback, but the entire team is working hard to overcome it."
On areas in which MSU will focus for improvement: "There are a few things that we need to focus on. We need to work on hitting handstands and really selling our floor performance. On the floor, there were a couple of situations in which we didn't complete our choreographed tumbling, so we have to make sure to include the upgrades to our routines."
