Michigan State Hosts Panthers, Broncos Saturday

Jan. 12, 2006

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East Lansing, Mich. - The Spartans (0-1-0) return to Jenison Field House, for the second time this season, and will play host to the University of Pittsburgh (0-0-0) and Western Michigan (1-0-0) on Saturday, Jan. 14, at 1 p.m. Michigan State is looking to rebound from a dissapointing performance in its season-opener, a 192.775-189.225 loss to Kentucky. MSU will build around strong performances from junior Chayla Hill, who captured two individual-event titles and freshman Katlyn Roggensack, who placed second in the All-Around competition vs. the Wildcats. After Saturday's meet the Green and White will embark on a five-meet road trip and will not return to Jenison for nearly a month.

LAST WEEKEND'S RESULTS

Michigan State dropped its season opener to the University of Kentucky 192.775-189.225 on Friday, Jan. 6 at Jenison Field House. Injuries limited top All-Around competitors Sarah Alexander and Kristen Coleman to one event each, but freshman Katlyn Roggensack stepped up in her collegiate debut to capture second place overall with a 38.575. Three other Spartans posted top-three finishes; Kristen Coleman was first on Uneven Bars with a 9.875, while Chayla Hill took the Floor Exercise and Vault titles with a pair of 9.800's and Victoria Iakounina was third on Beam with a 9.800.

SPARTANS VS. PITTSBURGH/WESTERN MICHIGAN

The Green and White will look to break into the win column Jan. 14, with a 1p.m. meet vs. the University of Pittsburgh at Jenison Field House. Michigan State holds a 12-3 all-time advantage in the series between the two schools, including the last five head-to-head contests. In 2005 the Spartans posted a quad-meet victory at Pittsburgh's Fitzgerald Field House, notching a 194.025 to knock of the Panthers (191.650), Bowling Green (191.325) and James Madison (185.075) on Feb. 26. MSU has never lost to Western Michigan, posting a 41-0 all-time series advantage. Last season the Spartans scored a 195.275 to upend the Broncos in the State of Michigan Classic.

WELCOME ABOARD

Freshman Katlyn Roggensack made an impressive debut for the Green and White, in a Saturday, Jan. 6 loss to Kentucky. The Wheaton, Ill., native posted a 38.575 to capture second-place in the All-Around competition, including a 9.775 score on Beam, to boast the Spartans. Roggensack's performance was especially critical due to injuries sustained in practice to two of Michigan State's top performers; Sarah Alexander and Kristen Coleman.

KING OF THE HILL

Junior Chayla Hill picked up right where she left off in 2005; the Hudson, Ohio, native qualified for NCAA Regional competition last season and opened the 2006 season in kind. Hill won first-place on Floor Exercise with a 9.800 and turned in an identical score to capture the Vault title, opening her season with a bang.

ONE FOR ONE

Competing in just one event junior Kristen Coleman made the most of it, taking first place on Bars with a score of 9.875. Coleman emerged as an All-Around threat last season and is expected to do so again in 2006.

COACH K

Head coach Kathie Klages returns for her 16th season at the helm of Michigan State gymnastics. Klages has compiled an all-time record of 250-123-3 and a .667 winning percentage, during her time in East Lansing, and is the winningest coach in program history. Klages has led the Spartans to eight NCAA Regional appearances, two 20-win seasons and an NIT championship, while coaching 19 All-Big Ten selections, 10 NCAA Qualifiers and one All-American selection.

SMALL, BUT POWERFUL

Michigan State enters the 2006 gymnastics season with just 11 student-athletes on the roster. Last season the Spartans sported 19 gymnasts en route to a 17-11 season. Only five of those 19 return, while six newcomers, two sophomores and four freshman, round out the roster.

FRESH FACES

Sophomores Rhiannon Banda-Scott and Megan McNally join the Michigan State gymnastics team in 2006 along with a quartet of freshmen. Banda-Scott was an All-MAC freshman of the year nominee last season at Central Michigan, while McNally provides needed depth and an impressive work ethic. Freshman Briana Dicus and Katlyn Roggensack bring an assortment of Region 5 championships, from the state of Illinois, to the Spartan gym, while Dani Fanning, a first-year Spartan from Glendale, Ariz., graduated high school in December 2005 to join the Green and White for the upcoming season. Fanning, a Western Champion on Floor Exercise, is the third member of her family to compete at the Division I level. Jenna Russell a local product from Okemos, Mich., finished second and third on All-Around and Floor at the Level 9 national prior to her arrival at Michigan State.