The Kent State University gymnastics team will host its annual Blue and Gold Intrasquad meet this Friday, Dec. 5, in Memorial Athletic and Convocation Gymnastics Center at 7 p.m. Admission is free as fans will get a sneak preview of all 16 gymnasts prior to the start of the 2004 squad.
This is a great opportunity for our gymnasts, especially our freshmen, to get in front of a crowd and judges and evaluate how they learn to handle the pressure of college gymnastics, Kent State head coach Brice Biggin said. They have worked really hard during the first semester and were all excited to showcase the team.The Golden Flashes looks to improve on its 10-10 overall record and 5-1 league mark from a year ago. KSU notched a runner-up finish at the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championships where Biggin was named the 2003 MAC Coach of the Year. KSU returns nine letterwinners, including junior April Zentko (Poland, Ohio/Poland), who was a 2003 MAC co-champion on beam. Senior Jessie James (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) also is back after a 14th-place finish on the all-around at the 2003 NCAA Central Regional. The Kent State gymnastics team will open the 2004 season Sunday, Jan. 11, 2004 as the Golden Flashes will host Wilson College at 1 p.m.
2004 Blue and Gold Team Rosters
Team Blue
Freshman Karissa Benson (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville)
Freshman Amy Cucinotta (Williamsville, N.Y./Amherst Central)
Junior Earline Feugill** (Weston, Fla./Western)
Freshman Jeni Folck (Andersonville, Tenn./Anderson County)
Senior Jessie James*** (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg)
Senior Kristy Kochajda** (Troy, Mich./Troy)
Junior Erika Linnersten** (Cincinnati, Ohio/Finneytown)
Sophomore Melissa Ruby* (McDonald, Ohio/McDonald)
Team Gold
Sophomore Carrie Mayle* (Fremont, Ohio/St. Josephs Central Catholic)
Freshman Julie Huynh (Brentwood, N.Y./Brentwood)
Freshman Amie Seifert (Barberton, Ohio/Barberton)
Freshman Natalie Strasser (Hamilton, N.Y./Hamilton)
Freshman Shawntelle Thompson (New Albany, Ind./New Albany)
Junior Lauren Wheatley (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth)
Senior Morgan Wiland*** (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard-Davidson)
Junior April Zentko** (Poland, Ohio/Poland)
* indicates letters earned
