Iowa State is dealing with two key injuries heading into Friday night's meet vs. Missouri at Hilton Coliseum. Sophomore Ashley Kent tore her ACL after landing a dismount off of uneven bars two weeks ago against Nebraska. She had surgery earlier this week and is expected to be out for the season.
Ashley Alden is dealing with her own injury woes. The senior suffered a possible sprained ankle while tumbling in practice last week. It's unknown to me how serious the injury is yet, but Alden and head coach Jay Ronayne excpect her to return to action by the end of the month.
With Kent, the Cyclones anchor on balance beam, and Alden, the Cyclones highest-ranked beam performer (she's ranked 10th in the nation on beam) out of action it will be interesting to see how Iowa State's respond on the 4-inch wide platform. As of Thursday, Ronayne was unsure himself who would be in his beam rotation Friday night, only telling me "it will be a surprise."
Friday 's meet starts at 7 p.m. I'll be doing live coverage in this blog, so check it out if you wish.
See Friday's Daily for a full preview of Friday's meet, including further details on Kent and Alden's injuries and how the Cyclones plan to respond.
Thanks for reading and stay warm,
Cody Saveraid
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Link to Cyclone Hockey fight video
Here's a direct link to the hockey fight mentioned in today's Daily. The Cyclones may have lost the game to Illinois, but as you'll see here, they certainly came out on top in this fight.
Cyclone Hockey Video
Hope you're all having a fantastic day,
Cody
Cyclone Hockey Video
Hope you're all having a fantastic day,
Cody
Monday, January 22, 2007
Monday Gymnastics Update
Here's the Top 10 of the latest official women's gymnastics rankings courtesy of GymInfo.
Rankings as of Jan. 22 by total season average:
1 Florida 196.742
2 Georgia 196.675
3 Utah 196.525
4 Stanford 196.233
5 Alabama 195.675
6 UCLA 195.660
7 Nebraska 195.462
8 Oklahoma 195.313
9 Iowa State 195.150
10 Auburn Univ. 195.000
Here's how Iowa State ranks nationally on all four events (with average score):
Vault - 11th - 48.967
Uneven Bars - 18th - 48.525
Balance Beam - 6th - 48.817
Floor Exercise - 8th - 48.842
Here's Iowa State's top individual perfomer nationally in each event (with average score):
All-Around - Janet Anson - 14th - 39.150
Floor Exercise - Janet Anson - 3rd - 9.900
Balance Beam - Ashley Alden - 11th - 9.842
Vault - Megan Barnes - 10th - 9.867
No Iowa State gymnasts rank in the Top 25 on uneven bars.
Interesting to note that the of the four Big 12 team's, three are in the top 10, while Missouri ranked 22nd with a much lower average of 193.492. Missouri is Iowa State's next opponent in Hilton Coliseum on Feb. 2.
As you saw in yesterday's Daily, sophomore balance beam specialist Ashley Kent's knee injury is much more serious than I originally thought during Friday's meet. Pending x-ray's this week, she might be done for the season. Along with losing her supreme talent on beam, it's shame that Iowa State fans will be unable to see, in my opinion, one of most dynamic uneven bars routines the Cyclones have to offer.
Kent isn't the only Big 12 gymnast feeling injury woes. It's been rumored that Oklahoma star gymnast Brittany Koncak-Schumann suffered an apparent leg injury competing last weekend against Missouri and Central Michigan. Eyewitness accounts report that she was carried off the floor and returned midway through the awards ceremony on crutches with a large ice pack taped to her knee. Keep your eye on this piece of news leading in to the ISU-Oklahoma meet in Ames on Feb. 16.
One of the other big news pieces coming out of Friday's meet was the record crowd at Hilton of 3,429 in ISU head coach Jay Ronayne's home debut as coach of the Cyclones. Contrast that with former-ISU, now-Oklahoma head coach K.J. Kindler's home debut - in front of 729 fans.
Finally, check out this a really impressive video clip of M.I.T. gymnast Cindy Chung's Side Somi mount onto the balance beam: Cindy Chung clip
Thanks for reading. I'll try to post another interesting video tomorrow,
Cody Saveraid
Rankings as of Jan. 22 by total season average:
1 Florida 196.742
2 Georgia 196.675
3 Utah 196.525
4 Stanford 196.233
5 Alabama 195.675
6 UCLA 195.660
7 Nebraska 195.462
8 Oklahoma 195.313
9 Iowa State 195.150
10 Auburn Univ. 195.000
Here's how Iowa State ranks nationally on all four events (with average score):
Vault - 11th - 48.967
Uneven Bars - 18th - 48.525
Balance Beam - 6th - 48.817
Floor Exercise - 8th - 48.842
Here's Iowa State's top individual perfomer nationally in each event (with average score):
All-Around - Janet Anson - 14th - 39.150
Floor Exercise - Janet Anson - 3rd - 9.900
Balance Beam - Ashley Alden - 11th - 9.842
Vault - Megan Barnes - 10th - 9.867
No Iowa State gymnasts rank in the Top 25 on uneven bars.
Interesting to note that the of the four Big 12 team's, three are in the top 10, while Missouri ranked 22nd with a much lower average of 193.492. Missouri is Iowa State's next opponent in Hilton Coliseum on Feb. 2.
As you saw in yesterday's Daily, sophomore balance beam specialist Ashley Kent's knee injury is much more serious than I originally thought during Friday's meet. Pending x-ray's this week, she might be done for the season. Along with losing her supreme talent on beam, it's shame that Iowa State fans will be unable to see, in my opinion, one of most dynamic uneven bars routines the Cyclones have to offer.
Kent isn't the only Big 12 gymnast feeling injury woes. It's been rumored that Oklahoma star gymnast Brittany Koncak-Schumann suffered an apparent leg injury competing last weekend against Missouri and Central Michigan. Eyewitness accounts report that she was carried off the floor and returned midway through the awards ceremony on crutches with a large ice pack taped to her knee. Keep your eye on this piece of news leading in to the ISU-Oklahoma meet in Ames on Feb. 16.
One of the other big news pieces coming out of Friday's meet was the record crowd at Hilton of 3,429 in ISU head coach Jay Ronayne's home debut as coach of the Cyclones. Contrast that with former-ISU, now-Oklahoma head coach K.J. Kindler's home debut - in front of 729 fans.
Finally, check out this a really impressive video clip of M.I.T. gymnast Cindy Chung's Side Somi mount onto the balance beam: Cindy Chung clip
Thanks for reading. I'll try to post another interesting video tomorrow,
Cody Saveraid
Friday, January 19, 2007
Final Rotation - Floor Exercise
Floor (Fourth Rotation) - A number of strong, inspired routines by Iowa State, but not enough to comeback and win.
1. Ashley Alden - 9.725 - Great routine. Excellent start for Iowa State on floor.
2. Megan Barnes - 8.750 - The crowd loves her music, clapping along. She was too amped up for her first pass, however, and fell on her butt upon landing.
3. Anna Robey - 9.775 - This freshman performed masterfully under pressure. Excellent performance. The student section gave her a standing ovation.
4. Jasmine Thompson - 9.825 - Fantastic performance. Standing ovations all around Hilton. She's not letting Nebraska win without a fight.
5. Katie Sweetin - 9.775 - Man alive, she NAILED her first pass. Tremendous. Only a freshman, expect her to be an All-American on floor before she graduates. Hilton went crazy after this performance.
6. Janet Anson - 9.900 - Excellent routine. This was a terrific example of why she's a seven-time All-American.
Nebraska finished very strong on beam, posting a , just enough to ward off an Iowa State comeback on floor.
Final score: Nebraska - 195.725
Iowa State - 195.325
It's very possible both teams will move up in next week's national rankings.
Ashley Kent's injury doesn't appear to be serious and she's standing just fine now. Expect her to compete again at ISU's next meet on Feb. 2.
Tonight's attendance of 3,429 is a new record for ISU gymnastics.
1. Ashley Alden - 9.725 - Great routine. Excellent start for Iowa State on floor.
2. Megan Barnes - 8.750 - The crowd loves her music, clapping along. She was too amped up for her first pass, however, and fell on her butt upon landing.
3. Anna Robey - 9.775 - This freshman performed masterfully under pressure. Excellent performance. The student section gave her a standing ovation.
4. Jasmine Thompson - 9.825 - Fantastic performance. Standing ovations all around Hilton. She's not letting Nebraska win without a fight.
5. Katie Sweetin - 9.775 - Man alive, she NAILED her first pass. Tremendous. Only a freshman, expect her to be an All-American on floor before she graduates. Hilton went crazy after this performance.
6. Janet Anson - 9.900 - Excellent routine. This was a terrific example of why she's a seven-time All-American.
Nebraska finished very strong on beam, posting a , just enough to ward off an Iowa State comeback on floor.
Final score: Nebraska - 195.725
Iowa State - 195.325
It's very possible both teams will move up in next week's national rankings.
Ashley Kent's injury doesn't appear to be serious and she's standing just fine now. Expect her to compete again at ISU's next meet on Feb. 2.
Tonight's attendance of 3,429 is a new record for ISU gymnastics.
Third Rotation - Balance Beam
Beam (Third rotation) - 48.825
1. Janet Anson - 9.800 - Very strong routine overall, despite a misstep or two. Fantastic spinning, twisting dismount.
2. Megan Barnes -9.750 - Barnes caught herself from potentially falling early and completed a solid routine. Her dismount involves her walking halfway across the beam and suddenly corkscrewing into the air from the middle of the beam. Great dismount that completely takes you by surprise
3. Jasmine Thompson -9.800 - Excellent routine. She had complete control of the crowd, which is difficult to do on beam.
4. Jade Kvach - 9.625 - Great routine. Kvach is as dependable as they get. She's similar to John Paxson when he played for the Chicago Bulls. In solid play and dependability, I mean. She certainly looks better than John Paxson.
5. Ashley Alden - 9.825 - Coming in to this meet, she was tied for 9th nationally on beam, and she should be ranked higher after this performance. Excellent routine, maybe ISU's best of the season thus far.
6. Katie Sweetin - 9.650 - Listed as an alternate, she's replacing Ashley Kent after Kent's leg injury on bars. Sweetin is a more than suitable replacement and she performed strong here.
Nebraska looked strong as always on the floor exercise, earning a 48.975, widening its lead. Emily Parsons is still ridiculously good and with certainly battle Janet Anson all season for Big 12 Gymnast of the Year honors.
After three rotations, Nebraska leads 146.700 - 146.275. Iowa State needs to pull out something special on floor exercise and hope for Nebraska to count falls on beam to win.
1. Janet Anson - 9.800 - Very strong routine overall, despite a misstep or two. Fantastic spinning, twisting dismount.
2. Megan Barnes -9.750 - Barnes caught herself from potentially falling early and completed a solid routine. Her dismount involves her walking halfway across the beam and suddenly corkscrewing into the air from the middle of the beam. Great dismount that completely takes you by surprise
3. Jasmine Thompson -9.800 - Excellent routine. She had complete control of the crowd, which is difficult to do on beam.
4. Jade Kvach - 9.625 - Great routine. Kvach is as dependable as they get. She's similar to John Paxson when he played for the Chicago Bulls. In solid play and dependability, I mean. She certainly looks better than John Paxson.
5. Ashley Alden - 9.825 - Coming in to this meet, she was tied for 9th nationally on beam, and she should be ranked higher after this performance. Excellent routine, maybe ISU's best of the season thus far.
6. Katie Sweetin - 9.650 - Listed as an alternate, she's replacing Ashley Kent after Kent's leg injury on bars. Sweetin is a more than suitable replacement and she performed strong here.
Nebraska looked strong as always on the floor exercise, earning a 48.975, widening its lead. Emily Parsons is still ridiculously good and with certainly battle Janet Anson all season for Big 12 Gymnast of the Year honors.
After three rotations, Nebraska leads 146.700 - 146.275. Iowa State needs to pull out something special on floor exercise and hope for Nebraska to count falls on beam to win.
Second Rotation - Uneven Bars
Bars (Second Rotation)- 48.500 - Really tremendous routines completely undermined by the judges scoring. Very tough bars judges tonight.
1. Megan Barnes - 9.625 - Wonderful routine, capped off with a totally stuck landing. Judges gave it a lower score than it warranted.
2. Ashley Kent - 9.200 - Much like last week, she used a wonderfully unique routine, but again struggled on landing the dismount. She fought to keep her balance upon landing, but eventually fell backwards. It appears she tweaked her foor or ankle, and she was helped off the mat by coach Jay Ronayne.
3. Nikki Dilbert - 9.800 - ISU's best bars routine of the early season. Fantastic.
4. Katie Lasher - 9.750 - .Well, Lasher just toppoed Dilbert's routine. Sticking dismounts doesn't get any better than this.
5. Ceilia Maccani - 9.775 - Wow...this may have even beat Lasher's. ISU is doing phenomenal on bars tonight.
6. Janet Anson - 9.550 - Magnificent. She's introduced new elements into her bars routine this season and she nailed everything here....and the judges totally screwed her over. Ridiculously low score. Completely befuddling. Should have been at least a 9.850.
Nebraska tore it up on vault, earning a 49.050.
After two rotations, Nebraska has a slim lead, 97.725 - 97.450. Remember, only the top five of each rotation's six scores count to the team total for each event.
Next up for the Cyclones is the balance beam.
1. Megan Barnes - 9.625 - Wonderful routine, capped off with a totally stuck landing. Judges gave it a lower score than it warranted.
2. Ashley Kent - 9.200 - Much like last week, she used a wonderfully unique routine, but again struggled on landing the dismount. She fought to keep her balance upon landing, but eventually fell backwards. It appears she tweaked her foor or ankle, and she was helped off the mat by coach Jay Ronayne.
3. Nikki Dilbert - 9.800 - ISU's best bars routine of the early season. Fantastic.
4. Katie Lasher - 9.750 - .Well, Lasher just toppoed Dilbert's routine. Sticking dismounts doesn't get any better than this.
5. Ceilia Maccani - 9.775 - Wow...this may have even beat Lasher's. ISU is doing phenomenal on bars tonight.
6. Janet Anson - 9.550 - Magnificent. She's introduced new elements into her bars routine this season and she nailed everything here....and the judges totally screwed her over. Ridiculously low score. Completely befuddling. Should have been at least a 9.850.
Nebraska tore it up on vault, earning a 49.050.
After two rotations, Nebraska has a slim lead, 97.725 - 97.450. Remember, only the top five of each rotation's six scores count to the team total for each event.
Next up for the Cyclones is the balance beam.
ISU's First Rotation - Vault
Vault (First Rotation) - 48.950 - Very, very strong vault routines. Could be a difference maker at the end of the night.
1. Jasmine Thompson - 9.700 - Great start. Real solid vault.
2. Katie Sweetin - 9.425 - Really good flip, but she almost landed butt first. See looked like she caught herself, however, but it should hurt her score.
3. Nikki Dilbert- 9.750 - Very good vault. Dilbert wasn't listed on the on the initial vault lineup, but she certainly stepped in with a vengeance.
4. Katie Lasher - 9.775 - Great vault. Crowd popped very loud for her.
5. Megan Barnes - 9.850 - Fantastic vault, totally stuck the landing.
6. Janet Anson - 9.875 - Terrific vault, good enough to beat Barnes. Barnes perfect career vault title record ends at two. Cael Sanderson's Utah-native-with-a-perfect-record streak stays intact.
Nebraska scored a 48.675 on uneven bars to begin the meet.
Iowa State has new home meet uniforms this year, with a sparkly cardinal as the base color and sparkly gold around the sholders and chest.
You'll notice that ISU's vault and bars lineups have changed quite a bit since last weekend at Minnesota.
Next up for ISU is uneven bars.
1. Jasmine Thompson - 9.700 - Great start. Real solid vault.
2. Katie Sweetin - 9.425 - Really good flip, but she almost landed butt first. See looked like she caught herself, however, but it should hurt her score.
3. Nikki Dilbert- 9.750 - Very good vault. Dilbert wasn't listed on the on the initial vault lineup, but she certainly stepped in with a vengeance.
4. Katie Lasher - 9.775 - Great vault. Crowd popped very loud for her.
5. Megan Barnes - 9.850 - Fantastic vault, totally stuck the landing.
6. Janet Anson - 9.875 - Terrific vault, good enough to beat Barnes. Barnes perfect career vault title record ends at two. Cael Sanderson's Utah-native-with-a-perfect-record streak stays intact.
Nebraska scored a 48.675 on uneven bars to begin the meet.
Iowa State has new home meet uniforms this year, with a sparkly cardinal as the base color and sparkly gold around the sholders and chest.
You'll notice that ISU's vault and bars lineups have changed quite a bit since last weekend at Minnesota.
Next up for ISU is uneven bars.
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