2008 Woodie Awards
Gymnasts' problems are mental, not physical
Jordan Demmel
Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: Sports
Monday's practice at Mabel Lee Hall should have been a celebration for the defending Big 12 Conference champion women's gymnastics team.
Before the meet, the Cornhuskers were confident they would be able to repeat their title. But Saturday's conference meet in Norman, Okla., didn't go the Cornhuskers' way. Nebraska finished fourth in the four-team field, behind Oklahoma, Iowa State and Missouri.
Consequently, practice for the Nebraska gymnasts on Monday and Tuesday was "kind of hard," said NU senior Desire' Sniatynski.
"At first there were a lot of emotions with things," Sniatynski said. "The weekend was hard, and I think we realized that we can't dwell. If we dwell, we'll ruin our chances at nationals."
But Sniatynski said everyone was handling the situation well and staying focused on
upcoming meets.
The Huskers have a two-week break before the NCAA Southeast Regional on April 12 in Gainesville, Fla. And the time off from competition could prove beneficial for the team.
After the Big 12 meet, Nebraska Coach Dan Kendig said the team's struggles weren't physical. Instead, he said, the problems were mental.
"We're a better team than we were (in Oklahoma), that's what's frustrating," Kendig said. "If we weren't that good, it would be easier to swallow."
On Saturday, all Nebraska had to do was perform like it did in the last three regular-season meets. The Huskers scored a 196.00 or better in all three contests, scores that could have beaten Oklahoma for the conference title.
To keep the stakes high for the regional competition, NU senior Emily Parsons said the team doesn't have a choice but to step up its performance.
Sniatynski said some team members just need to work on confidence and believing they have the skills to do the events they're capable of doing and
hitting routines.
Sniatynski, Parsons and junior Tricia Woo all hit their routines on Saturday, and Sniatynski said their role is help build confidence. Kendig said he doesn't want to point fingers because Nebraska goes into meets as a team.
The loss at the Big 12 Championships moved Nebraska to No. 15 in the national rankings.
"Had we done our job, we would be in a different scenario at regionals," Kendig said. "We've dug this hole, and now it's our responsibility to
get out."
No. 15 Nebraska will need a shot of confidence to face No. 3 Florida, No. 9 UCLA, No. 21 North Carolina State, No. 25 West Virginia and North Carolina at the regional meet.
"We can't change the past," Sniatynski said. "We're focusing on nationals."
Note: The top three finishers in each Big 12 Championships event were named to the All-Big 12 Championship Team. Senior Emily Parsons was named to the team for three events after finishing second in the all-around and vault and fourth on beam. Junior Tricia Woo was honored on beam and floor and senior Desire' Sniatynski was also included with a fourth-place finish in the all-around and a third-place finish on bars.
JORDANDEMMEL@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM
Before the meet, the Cornhuskers were confident they would be able to repeat their title. But Saturday's conference meet in Norman, Okla., didn't go the Cornhuskers' way. Nebraska finished fourth in the four-team field, behind Oklahoma, Iowa State and Missouri.
Consequently, practice for the Nebraska gymnasts on Monday and Tuesday was "kind of hard," said NU senior Desire' Sniatynski.
"At first there were a lot of emotions with things," Sniatynski said. "The weekend was hard, and I think we realized that we can't dwell. If we dwell, we'll ruin our chances at nationals."
But Sniatynski said everyone was handling the situation well and staying focused on
upcoming meets.
The Huskers have a two-week break before the NCAA Southeast Regional on April 12 in Gainesville, Fla. And the time off from competition could prove beneficial for the team.
After the Big 12 meet, Nebraska Coach Dan Kendig said the team's struggles weren't physical. Instead, he said, the problems were mental.
"We're a better team than we were (in Oklahoma), that's what's frustrating," Kendig said. "If we weren't that good, it would be easier to swallow."
On Saturday, all Nebraska had to do was perform like it did in the last three regular-season meets. The Huskers scored a 196.00 or better in all three contests, scores that could have beaten Oklahoma for the conference title.
To keep the stakes high for the regional competition, NU senior Emily Parsons said the team doesn't have a choice but to step up its performance.
Sniatynski said some team members just need to work on confidence and believing they have the skills to do the events they're capable of doing and
hitting routines.
Sniatynski, Parsons and junior Tricia Woo all hit their routines on Saturday, and Sniatynski said their role is help build confidence. Kendig said he doesn't want to point fingers because Nebraska goes into meets as a team.
The loss at the Big 12 Championships moved Nebraska to No. 15 in the national rankings.
"Had we done our job, we would be in a different scenario at regionals," Kendig said. "We've dug this hole, and now it's our responsibility to
get out."
No. 15 Nebraska will need a shot of confidence to face No. 3 Florida, No. 9 UCLA, No. 21 North Carolina State, No. 25 West Virginia and North Carolina at the regional meet.
"We can't change the past," Sniatynski said. "We're focusing on nationals."
Note: The top three finishers in each Big 12 Championships event were named to the All-Big 12 Championship Team. Senior Emily Parsons was named to the team for three events after finishing second in the all-around and vault and fourth on beam. Junior Tricia Woo was honored on beam and floor and senior Desire' Sniatynski was also included with a fourth-place finish in the all-around and a third-place finish on bars.
JORDANDEMMEL@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM
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