Gymnasts spring into action in '02

FILE PHOTO / Sarah Herz With a large team consisting of some veteran gymnasts, the men's gymnastics team heads into its home opener Sunday against Temple University with a lot of confidence in the 2002 season. The women's team is a youthful bunch led by a small group of veterans going into its home meet against Rutgers University Saturday.

The sounds of pounding feet and bouncing springboards echo through the chalk-filled air of Godwin's gym as JMU's men's and women's gymnastics teams are in training once again for their upcoming seasons.

Both teams possess a pool of new athletes, promising great success if the teams can incorporate their new talent into the already thriving program.

The men's team returns most of its key gymnasts from last season, including senior Nick Blanton, one of East Coast Athletic Conference's gymnasts of the week during the 2001 season, who scored a third place finish overall at last year's Virginia Collegiate Championships. Senior Luke Edstrom, junior Josh Goodwin and sophomore Jason Woodnick also return to lead the team made up of predominantly freshmen.

In the team's first two meets, coach Roger Burke thought the team started off well, but felt there was some room for improvement.

"We're a good-sized team now, which makes for different challenges," Burke said. "There's a huge difference between a team of six gymnasts and a team of 12 gymnasts. There's a lot of competition among the athletes to perform, which pushes them, and we are getting a lot of better quality routines."

The biggest challenge for its 2002 season is to assimilate the freshmen into meets and have them perform like seasoned veterans.

Blanton said, "So far it's been a little rocky, so far we've been doing a good job in the gym. We have two (home) meets coming up, and I think we should do OK, and we're really excited."

JMU's big challenge comes after its two home meets, with three consecutive away meets being kicked off with an important meet against Army and Air Force.

"With the quality of athletes as freshmen and returnees, we will improve off last year's, and I don't think a score of 200 is unrealistic," Burke said. "The guys are showing a strong commitment to reaching that goal."

The women's team comes off of a successful 2001 season with a first place finish at State Championships. Once again, six freshmen make this season's team a young one, but six juniors and seniors also return to lead.

Captains senior Amy Keister and junior Lauren Shear are expected to fill the void left by the 10 graduated seniors of last season. Record-holders juniors Janelle DiOrio and Carri Elder and sophomores Nicole Bascope and Erin Fitzgerald return for another successful year. Junior Jen Robinson also returns to hold onto her title as the highest scorer on bar.

Coming back this season after last season's injuries are sophomores Nicole Defilippo and Katie Elder, both showing great improvement and promise for continued progress.

The women's team also faces the challenges of incorporating its young gymnasts into the program quickly to prevent injuries and limitations. However, Shear is optimistic about the season.

"We have a really strong team of sophomores and a very small number of upperclassmen coming off of an incredibly strong season," Shear said. "The first meet will have a different lineup due to injuries and sickness, but it's so early it really doesn't matter."

The team's first meet against Towson University went better than expected, according to Burke.
"We worked together as a team, but the big piece missing is that half the team remembers what happened last year, and half the team is learning what is supposed to happen. It's going to be a challenge to get everyone on the same page."

Both teams play host this weekend at Godwin Gym, the men against the Temple University Owls as the women against the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights.

This season promises to be an exciting one as the men strive to prove that a bigger team does equal a better one, and the women attempt to defend their first place finish last year.

"By the end of the year, we will become what JMU gymnastics has always been known for," Burke said. "You won't be able to tell freshman from senior and we will become cohesive in a sport that is, in all purposes, an individual one."