2001 MICHIGAN WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS - MGoBlue.com

2001 MICHIGAN WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS
For IMMEDIATE Release
March 20, 2001
MICHIGAN
WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS
2001 RECORD
Overall: 9-7
Big Ten: 3-0
Home: 5-1
Away: 1-4
Neutral: 3-2
Dual Meet: 4-3
GymInfo Rank: No. 7
2001 SCHEDULE
January
6 Super Six Challenge 1
at #5 Alabama L 194.475-195.350
vs. #2 Georgia L 194.475-195.350
vs. #7 Stanford L 194.475-195.300
vs. #9 Penn State W 194.475-193.300
vs. #10 Florida W 194.475-194.425
12 #12 Oregon State W 194.125-190.925
19 #21 Iowa W 196.200-194.199
#9 Minnesota W 196.200-193.675
26 at Kentucky W 196.325-193.800
February
2 at #6 Florida L 194.925-196.225
vs. Auburn W 194.925-189.925
10 at #4 Georgia L 196.625-196.675
17 SE Missouri St. W 197.225-190.850
23 at #3 Utah L 196.675-197.425
March
9 #1 UCLA L 197.125-197.700
17 #16 West Virginia W 197.575-193.675
24 Big Ten Championships 2 6 p.m.
April
7 NCAA Regional 2 6 p.m.
19-21 at NCAA Championships 3
19 Team Preliminaries TBA
20 Super Six Team Finals TBA
21 Individual Finals TBA
1 - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
2 - Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Arena)
3 - Athens, Ga.
MICHIGAN GYMNASTICS NOTES
This Week: No. 7 Michigan Hosts Big Ten Championships
Crisler Arena - Ann Arbor, Mich. - Saturday, March 24 (6 p.m.)
Next Meet: No. 7 Michigan Hosts NCAA Region 5 Championships
Crisler Arena - Ann Arbor, Mich. - Saturday, April 7 (6 p.m.)
Wolverines Start Postseason with Big Ten Championships in Crisler
The seventh-ranked University of Michigan women's gymnastics team (9-7, 3-0
Big Ten) hosts the Big Ten Conference Championships on Saturday (March 24) at
6 p.m. in Crisler Arena. Michigan, the two-time defending champions, is 3-0
against Big Ten teams this season and has not lost to a conference rival since Jan.
15, 1999, when Minnesota won a dual meet at Cliff Keen Arena. This meet
marks the fourth time that Michigan has hosted the conference meet and the first
since 1993, when the Big Ten Championships were held at Crisler Arena.
About the Field...
● Michigan is competing for its ninth Big Ten women’s gymnastics title in the
program’s history and the eighth in the last nine years. The Wolverines won
the inaugural conference championship in 1982 and also captured titles in
1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000.
● Five of the seven teams in the championships are ranked among the top 20
programs in the nation in the latest national rankings (March 19) -- No. 7
Michigan, No. 10 Penn State, No. 14 Iowa, No. 15 Minnesota, and No. 17
Ohio State.
● Based on Regional Qualifying Scores, Michigan leads all Big Ten opponents
in the vault, uneven bars and floor exercise. Penn State is the best team in
the conference on the balance beam.
● Individually, Penn State’s Katie Rowland is the top-ranked all-around gymnast
in the conference and the nation with an RQS average of 39.555, while
Michigan’s Elise Ray (Columbia, Md./Wilde Lake HS) is second best in the
Big Ten with an RQS average of 39.425.
Important Info
● Fans can still purchase tickets in person at the University of Michigan Ticket
Office, by calling the ticket office at 734-764-0247 or by downloading the
ticket form at MGoBlue.com.
● There is a media press conference with all seven head coaches scheduled for
1:30 p.m. on Friday (March 23) in the Crisler production studio.
● The meet will be shown tape-delayed on FOX Sports Net Chicago on Tuesday,
March 27, at 8:30 p.m. EST. Mike Leiderman and former U-M gymnast
Wendy Wilkinson will serve as the talent for the broadcast.
● There are seven rotations during the championships. During each, there will
be four teams competing and three teams with byes. The order was determined
by a draw at the end of last year’s conference championships.
Michigan Women's Gymnastics On-Line - mgoblue.com

2001 Quick Facts MICHIGAN GYMNASTICS NOTES (Cont.)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Location: Ann Arbor, Mich.
Founded: 1817
Enrollment: 37,846
President: Lee Bollinger
Athletics Director: William C. Martin
Senior Women’s Administrator:
Megan McCallister
Nickname: Wolverines
Colors: Maize and Blue
Conference: Big Ten
All-Time Record: 344-192-1 (26th year)
Home Facilities: Cliff Keen Arena (1,800),
Crisler Arena (13,562)
Wolverine Seniors Lead Team to Big Victory Over No. 16 West Virginia
In appropriate fashion for Senior Night, it was the trio of fourth-year gymnasts who led
sixth-ranked Michigan to its highest score of the season in a 197.575-193.675 victory
over No. 16 West Virginia on Saturday (March 17) in Crisler Arena. In their last regular-season
home meet, Christine Michaud (Mill Valley, Calif./The Branson School)
won the vault and Bridget Knaeble (New Hope, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) won the
uneven bars and tied Karina Senior (Markham, Ontario/Milliken HS) for first in the
floor exercise.
Final Team Standings
School Vault Bars Beam Floor Total
1. MICHIGAN 49.200 49.500 49.375 49.500 197.575
2. West Virginia 48.950 47.925 47.550 49.250 193.675
GYMNASTICS STAFF
Head Coach (Alma Mater, year):
Beverly Plocki (West Virginia, ‘87)
Michigan Record: 222-69 (12th year)
Overall Record: Same
Assistant Coaches (Alma Mater, year):
Scott Sherman (St. Cloud St., 1986)
Paul Scardina (Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 1995)
GYMNASTICS TEAM FACTS
Tri-Captains: Bridget Knaeble
Christine Michaud, Jodie Rosenberg
2000 Record (Big Ten, place):
22-5 (9-0, first)
NCAA Championships Finish:
Sixth, 195.725
NCAA First-team All-Americans:
Sarah Cain – Vault, Uneven Bars, Floor
Exercise, All-Around
Janessa Grieco - Vault
Christine Michaud - Vault
Shannon MacKenzie - Balance Beam
NCAA Second-team All-Americans:
Sarah Elizabeth-Langford - Vault
Bridget Knaeble - Uneven Bars
Kate Nellans - Uneven Bars
Karina Senior - Floor Exercise
NCAA Region V Finish:
First, 197.850
NCAA Region II Event Champions:
Sarah Cain – Vault, Uneven Bars, All-
Around
Jenessa Grieco – Vault
Big Ten Championships Finish:
First, 197.850
Big Ten Champions:
Sarah Cain - Vault, Floor Exercise, All-
Around
Cami Singer - Uneven Bars
Tara Tagliarino - Uneven Bars
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 11/4
All-Americans Returning/Lost: 5/3
MEDIA RELATIONS
Phone: (734) 763-4423
Fax: (734) 647-1188
Contact: Jason Gerdom
e-mail: jgerdom@umich.edu
Athletics Web Site: mgoblue.com
Last Season at the Big Ten Championships
Sarah Cain's Big Ten record 39.750 in the all-around led then-No. 1 Michigan to a new
team and Big Ten Championship record 197.850 on March 18, 2000, at Penn State's
Rec Hall. The Wolverines also scored a school-record 49.525 on the beam en route to
their second consecutive conference crown.
All-Conference Members Back for Another
Michigan returns six of last year’s eight All-Big Ten team members. Looking to add
another selection to their resumes are Janessa Grieco (Mahopac, N.Y./Carmel HS),
Bridget Knaeble, Shannon MacKenzie (Midland, Mich./Midland HS), Christine
Michaud, Karina Senior and Cami Singer (Monument, Colo./Lewis Palmer HS).
Sarah Cain and Tara Tagliarino also earned All-Big Ten honors last year.
Mix and Match
Despite bringing home 13 individual event titles in the last three conference championships,
just three members of this year’s team have won event titles. In 1998,
Bridget Knaeble tied for first on the floor exercise with former Wolverine Lisa Simes.
In 1999, Christine Michaud tied with Simes for first on the vault, and last year, Cami
Singer tied teammate Tara Tagliarino for the event title on the uneven bars.
Best in the Bunch
In the 19-year history of the Big Ten Championships, only four schools have won team
titles - Michigan, Ohio State, Minnesota and Illinois. Breaking down the group,
Michigan has won the most titles with nine, while Ohio State has won five, Minnesota
four and Illinois one.
Watching for the Lady Lions
In the last nine years, Michigan has won eight Big Ten Championships. In five of
those championships, Penn State has finished second to the Wolverines. Entering this
season’s conference battle, the Lady Lions are ranked second in the conference to
Michigan.
Looking for Back-to-Back Honors
Last season, Wolverine Sarah Cain took home Big Ten Gymnast of the Year honors,
while teammate Janessa Grieco was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. This
season, with senior Bridget Knaeble turning out one great performance after another
and setting new marks each meet, she has become a candidate for the conference
Gymnast of the Year. Meanwhile, freshman Elise Ray has entered the collegiate scene
with a bang and has become a strong candidate for both awards.
After Big Tens, Wolverines to Host NCAA Region 5 Championships
Following the Big Ten Championships this weekend, Michigan hosts the NCAA
Region 5 Championships on April 7 at 6 p.m. At the regional, the Wolverines will
begin a quest for their ninth consecutive trip to the national championships, which take
place this year on April 19-21 in Athens, Ga.

GYMINFO Top 25
(as of March 19)
Team
RQ Ave.
1 UCLA 197.465
2 Georgia 197.395
3 Alabama 197.195
4 Nebraska 197.175
5 Utah 197.110
6 Stanford 196.825
7 MICHIGAN 196.795
8 Arizona State 196.490
9 Iowa State 196.420
10 Penn State 196.205
11 Florida 196.160
12 Brigham Young 195.975
13 Oregon State 195.875
14 Iowa 195.830
15 Minnesota 195.780
16 Washington 195.770
17 Ohio State 195.735
18 Kent State 195.705
19 West Virginia 195.660
20 Oklahoma 195.440
21 Louisiana State 195.340
22 Illinois State 195.270
23 Denver 195.210
24 Arizona 195.190
25 California 195.130
Week-By-Week
Week
Rank
Preseason ......................3
Jan. 15.........................11
Jan. 22...........................5
Jan. 29...........................8
Feb. 5 ............................8
Feb. 12 ..........................8
Feb. 19 ..........................7
Feb. 26 ..........................7
Mar. 5............................8
Mar. 12..........................6
Mar. 19..........................7
Mar. 26
April 2
April 9
April 16
April 23
Region 5 Ranking
Team
RQ Ave.
1 MICHIGAN 196.795
2 Penn State 196.205
3 New Hampshire 194.520
4 Massachusetts 192.460
5 Rhode Island 192.350
MICHIGAN GYMNASTICS NOTES (Cont.)
Four Gymnasts Nationally Ranked
Four Wolverines are ranked (by regional qualifying average) among the nation’s best
gymnasts. Elise Ray is eighth on the uneven bars (9.930), tied for 13th in the floor
exercise (9.915) and sixth in the all-around (39.425). Bridget Knaeble is tied for 12th
on the uneven bars (9.915) and tied with freshman Calli Ryals (Elyria, Ohio/Midview
HS) for 19th in the floor exercise (9.910). On the vault, Christine Michaud is tied for
fifth (9.715) in the nation.
Extending the Streak
With three wins over conference opponents this season, Michigan increased its Big Ten
winning streak to 21 matches. The last time a Big Ten school defeated the Wolverines
was Jan. 15, 1999, when Minnesota won 193.050-193.550 at Cliff Keen Arena.
Tri-Captains
The 2001 Michigan women's gymnastics team has tri-captains leading the squad.
Seniors Bridget Knaeble and Christine Michaud are joined by junior Jodie
Rosenberg (W. Bloomfield, Mich./W. Bloomfield HS). Knaeble was a tri-captain in
2000 as a junior as well.
Michigan in the Rankings
National Rankings
(as of March 19)
Team Place RQ Ave.
Overall 7th 196.795
Vault 5th 49.150
Uneven Bars 8th 49.300
Balance Beam 14th 48.910
Floor 4th 49.425
Individuals in the Top 25
Vault
Christine Michaud 5th 9.915
Uneven Bars
Elise Ray 8th 9.930
Bridget Knaeble T-12th 9.915
Balance Beam
None
Floor Exercise
Elise Ray T-13th 9.915
Bridget Knaeble T-19th 9.910
Calli Ryals T-19th 9.910
All-Around
Elise Ray 6th 39.425
Regional Rankings
(as of March 19)
Team Place RQ Ave.
Overall 1st 196.795
Vault 1st 49.150
Uneven Bars 1st 49.300
Balance Beam 2nd 48.910
Floor 1st 49.425
Individuals in the Top 10
Vault
Chrissy Michaud 1st 9.915
Janessa Grieco 4th 9.860
Karina Senior 5th 9.825
Bridget Knaeble 6th 9.775
Elise Ray 7th 9.770
Uneven Bars
Elise Ray 1st 9.930
Bridget Knaeble 2nd 9.915
Karina Senior 8th 9.835
Amy Kuczera 9th 9.825
Balance Beam
Shannon MacKenzie 4th 9.845
Elise Ray T-7th 9.805
Floor Exercise
Elise Ray 1st 9.915
Bridget Knaeble T-2nd 9.910
Calli Ryals T-2nd 9.910
Janessa Grieco 6th 9.875
Karina Senior 10th 9.850
All-Around
Elise Ray 2nd 39.425
Karina Senior 5th 38.875

Big Ten Rankings
(as of March 19)
Team
RQ Ave.
1 MICHIGAN 196.795
2 Penn State 196.205
3 Iowa 195.830
4 Minnesota 195.780
5 Ohio State 195.735
6 Michigan State 195.085
7 Illinois 194.255
Vault Rankings
Team
RQ Ave.
1 MICHIGAN 49.150
2 Ohio State 49.080
3 Minnesota 48.900
4 Penn State 48.890
5 Iowa 48.750
6 Michigan State 48.605
7 Illinois 48.295
Bars Rankings
Team
RQ Ave.
1 MICHIGAN 49.300
2 Penn State 49.250
3 Ohio State 49.245
4 Minnesota 49.145
5 Iowa 49.135
6 Illinois 48.985
7 Michigan State 48.875
Beam Rankings
Team
RQ Ave.
1 Penn State 49.230
2 MICHIGAN 48.910
3 Iowa 48.860
4 Michigan State 48.765
5 Minnesota 48.710
6 Illinois 48.700
7 Ohio State 48.555
Floor Rankings
Team
RQ Ave.
1 MICHIGAN 49.425
2 Penn State 49.235
3 Minnesota 49.215
4 Iowa 49.160
5 Ohio State 49.120
6 Michigan State 49.005
7 Illinois 48.960
Big Ten Individuals in the Rankings
Conference Rankings
(as of March 19)
All-Around
Gymnast
RQ Ave.
1 Katie Rowland, PSU 39.555
2 Elise Ray U-M 39.425
3 Alexis Maday Iowa 39.355
4 Lindsey Vagedes OSU 39.340
5 MaryAnne Kelley Minn. 39.295
6 Stephanie Gran Iowa 39.225
7 Christy Linder MSU 39.135
8 Sarah Spring OSU 39.100
9 Katie McAvoy PSU 38.910
10 Megan Beuckens Minn. 38.905
Vault
Gymnast
RQ Ave.
1 Chrissy Michaud U-M 9.915
2 Jill Tucker OSU 9.890
3 Lindsey Vagedes OSU 9.885
Katie Rowland PSU 9.885
5 Gemma Cuff PSU 9.875
Uneven Bars
Gymnast
RQ Ave.
1 Elise Ray U-M 9.930
2 Bridget Knaeble U-M 9.915
3 Maria Taylor PSU 9.910
4 Mary Beth Doerr OSU 9.895
5 Katie Rowland PSU 9.890
Balance Beam
Gymnast
RQ Ave.
1 Jana Gallagher Ill. 9.915
2 Katie Rowland PSU 9.895
3 Jenny Alf Minn. 9.890
4 Richelle Simpson PSU 9.890
5 Jane McIntosh MSU 9.885
Floor Exercise
Gymnast
RQ Ave.
1 Elise Ray U-M 9.915
Alexis Maday Iowa 9.915
3 Bridget Knaeble U-M 9.910
Calli Ryals U-M 9.910
MaryAnne Kelley Minn. 9.910
Game Day Live!
National Rankings
(as of March 19)
All-Around
Gymnast
RQ Ave.
1 Katie Rowland PSU 39.555
2 Kristi Lichey Georgia 39.495
3 Lindsay Wing Stanford 39.475
4 Deidra Graham Utah 39.465
5 Kelly Parkinson BYU 39.430
6 Elise Ray U-M 39.425
7 Shelly Kringen Iowa St. 39.395
8 Cory Fritzinger Georgia 39.380
9 Ashley Shible Denver 39.375
10 Sissy Huey Iowa St. 39.365
Vault
Gymnast
RQ Ave.
1 Kristi Lichey Georgia 9.970
2 N. Hashimoto E. Mich. 9.935
3 T. Jackson W. Virginia 9.925
4 Katrina Severin Oregon St. 9.920
5 C. Michaud U-M 9.915
Uneven Bars
Gymnast
RQ Ave.
1 Jamie Dantzscher UCLA 9.970
2 Mohini Bhardwaj UCLA 9.965
3 Laura Moon Arizona St. 9.955
T. Kulikowski Utah 9.955
8 Elise Ray U-M 9.930
Balance Beam
Gymnast
RQ Ave.
1 T. Kulikowski Utah 9.940
2 Shannon Bowles Utah 9.935
3 Kristen Maloney UCLA 9.930
4 Yvonne Tousek UCLA 9.920
T6 Jana Gallagher Illinois 9.915
Floor Exercise
Gymnast
RQ Ave.
1 Jamie Dantzscher UCLA 9.985
2 Suzanne Sears Georgia 9.950
3 Shelly Kringen Iowa St. 9.945
Marline Stephens Georgia 9.945
T13Elise Ray U-M 9.915
Alexis Maday Iowa 9.915
Italics indicates top Big Ten gymnast
The Big Ten Championships will feature Game Day Live for
women’s gymnastics on the Internet. Fans can log on to
MGoBlue.com for all of the action. Live video, in-meet scoring
and notes are available during the meet.

Individual Bests
All-Around
39.650 Ray - vs. SEMO
39.600 Ray - vs. West Virginia
Ray - at Utah
39.525 Knaeble - vs. SEMO
39.425 Senior - at Georgia
Vault
9.950 Michaud - vs. West Virginia
Michaud - vs. UCLA
Grieco - at Utah
Michaud - vs. SEMO
9.925 Michaud - at Utah
Team Bests
Vault
49.350 vs. SE Missouri St. (2/17)
49.300 at Utah (2/23)
49.250 at Georgia (2/10)
49.225 vs. UCLA (3/9)
49.200 vs. West Virginia (3/17)
Uneven Bars
49.525 at Georgia (2/10)
49.500 vs. West Virginia (3/17)
49.300 vs. UCLA (3/9)
49.250 at Utah (2/23)
at Florida/Auburn (2/2)
Event Leaders
Vault
Season Avg.
Christine Michaud 9.873
Janessa Grieco 9.843
Karina Senior 9.785
Elise Ray 9.753
Bridget Knaeble 9.745
Uneven Bars
Season Avg.
Elise Ray 9.919
Bridget Knaeble 9.890
Calli Ryals 9.796
Amy Kuczera 9.758
Christine Mantilia 9.757
Uneven Bars
9.975 Knaeble - vs. West Virginia
Knaeble - at Georgia
9.950 Ray - vs. West Virginia
Ray - at Georgia
9.925 Senior - vs. West Virginia
Ray - vs. UCLA
Ray - at Utah
Ray - at Florida/Auburn
Ray - vs. SEMO
Balance Beam
9.950 Ray - vs. West Virginia
Ray - at Utah
9.900 MacKenzie - vs. W. Virginia
Ray - vs. SEMO
Ray - at Florida/Auburn
MacKenzie - vs. Iowa/Minn.
Floor Exercise
10.0 Knaeble - vs. SEMO
Ray - vs. SEMO
9.950 Knaeble - vs. West Virginia
Senior - vs. West Virginia
Ray - at Utah
Knaeble - at Georgia
Honors & Awards
Big Ten Gymnast of the Week
Bridget Knaeble (2/20)
Elise Ray (2/27)
Balance Beam
49.375 vs. West Virginia (3/17)
49.125 vs. UCLA (3/9)
49.075 vs. SE Missouri St. (2/17)
at Kentucky (1/26)
48.900 at Utah (2/23)
Floor Exercise
49.600 vs. SE Missouri St. (2/17)
49.550 at Georgia (2/10)
49.500 vs. West Virginia (3/17)
49.475 vs. UCLA (3/9)
vs. Iowa/Minnesota (1/19)
Team Score
197.575 vs. West Virginia (3/17)
197.225 vs. SE Missouri St. (2/17)
197.125 vs. UCLA (3/9)
196.675 at Utah (2/23)
196.625 at Georgia (2/10)
Balance Beam Season Avg.
Shannon MacKenzie 9.790
Elise Ray 9.759
Chrsitine Mantilia 9.725
Calli Ryals 9.719
Janessa Grieco 9.615
Floor Exercise Season Avg.
Elise Ray 9.916
Janessa Grieco 9.860
Bridget Knaeble 9.843
Calli Ryals 9.838
Karina Senior 9.772
All-Around
Season Avg.
Elise Ray 39.347
Calli Ryals 39.000
Karina Senior 38.936
Janessa Grieco 38.900
Bridget Knaeble 38.706
2001 Michigan Gymnastics Roster
Wolverine Hgt. Yr. Hometown (High School)
Lenna Doolan 5-4 So. Fairfax, Va. (Fairfax)
Janessa Grieco* 5-2 So. Mahopac, N.Y. (Carmel)
Bridget Knaeble*** (c) 5-5 Sr. New Hope, Minn. (Totino-Grace)
Amy Kuczera* 5-3 Jr. Bloomingdale, Ill. (Lake Park)
Shannon MacKenzie** 5-3 Jr. Midland, Mich. (Midland)
Christine Mantilia 4-11 Fr. New Canaan, Conn. (New Canaan)
Erin McWatt** 5-1 Jr. Livonia, Mich. (Adlai E. Stevenson)
Christine Michaud*** (c) 5-2 Sr. Mill Valley, Calif. (The Branson School)
Melissa Peterson** 5-3 Jr. Shawnee, Kan. (Shawnee Mission West)
Elise Ray 4-11 Fr. Columbia, Md. (Wilde Lake)
Jodie Rosenberg* (c) 5-2 Jr. West Bloomfield, Mich. (West Bloomfield)
Alison Rudisi 5-3 Fr. Mississauga, Ont. (Loyola Catholic)
Calli Ryals 5-1 Fr. Elyria, Ohio (Midview)
Karina Senior** 5-1 Sr. Markham, Ontario (Milliken Mills)
Cami Singer* 5-2 So. Monument, Colo. (Lewis Palmer)
Tara Tagliarino* 5-4 So. Tampa, Fla. (H.B. Plant)
* indicates letters won (c) indicates captians
Head Coach: Beverly Plocki (West Virginia, 1987)
Assistant Coaches: Scott Sherman, Paul Scardina
Trainer: Lisa Hass