Washington Season Preview by Greg

This season, the Washington Huskies to look to rebound from an injury-plagued season and catapult themselves into Nationals.  Last season, the Washington Huskies suffered a series of season ending injuries in rapid succession.  The Huskies lost a handful of gymnasts, including three key AA performers, in the space of weeks.  Even at the Regional meet, the Huskies were without the full services of star AAer Emily Pritchard, who suffered a stress fracture near the end of the season.

Such setbacks could have eliminated any chance of success.  Despite these obstacles, the Huskies qualified to Regionals and placed 21st in the final National rankings.  The remaining team members stepped up to the challenge to fill the roster spots capably, including a bevy of walkons.  With a now veteran core, the key returning injured gymnasts, and a stellar recruiting class, the Huskies look set to rebound in 2003.

The Huskies do have some losses to contend with in 2003.  First and foremost, the Huskies lost 2002 West Regional Assistant Coach of the Year Danna Durante.  In her place is Heidi Coleman, a top elite level coach from Canada who most recently served as BB coach to 2002 Commonwealth Champion Kate Richardson.  The Huskies also suffered the medical retirement this fall of Kim Clauson Porter, who primarily specialized on the UB.  The Huskies graduated one senior, Allison Bruce (UB/BB).

The Returners

The Huskies have just one senior, redshirt senior Stacy Wong.  Wong was the 2001 Pac-10 UB Champ and runnerup in the AA and is the school record holder in the AA.  However, her ACL injury last season was the latest in a long string of injuries.  The Huskies will look for Wong to increase her contributions as the post season approaches.

The junior class is led by 2002 Pac-10 Vault Champ and 2002 MVP Emily Pritchard.  Pritchard also excels in the UB, with a routine that features a Gienger, a unique release (Pritchard -JO/Yezhova -FIG), and full in dismount.  Pritchard was also the 2001 SE Regional Champ on UB and a 2001 individual NCAA qualifier in the AA.  Pritchard has worked hard to overcome pain and yet continues to improve on all four events (she had leg tumor removed in high school).

Tall (5'-8") and elegant, Tanya Powers stepped up her contributions in 2002 to become an 39+ AAer.  Her best events are vault (Hristakaeva) and BB (round off layout mount).  Team co-captain Amy Metcalf also extended her contributions to three events in 2002, providing depth on UB (knees together double front), BB and FX.  Gharde Geldenhuys, a 2000 Olympian for Namibia, saw limited action in 2002 and is recovering from injury.

Team co-captain Molly Seaman, a RS Sophomore, was breaking through as a top AA (39.25 in her last meet) before going down with a season ending knee injury.  With a recovery well ahead of schedule, she'll start her contributions first on UB (Jaeger, Pak, double front) and BB.  Powerful andclean, Seaman can also be a force on V and FX once fully recovered.  Former Utah transfer Tacia LaBatte is working back into the lineups after suffering a broken foot.  She looks to regain the form that made her the Junior Olympic runnerup in the AA as a high school senior.

Voted Most Inspirational and Rookie of the Year in 2002, Carly Dockendorf will look to improve on her freshman year.  Dockendorf moonlighted in the Spring as a first time pole vaulter, recording the year's best mark by a Canadian junior (19 and under).  In the gym, she is even more dynamic, turning her power into a pike front 1/2 vault and showing an expressive style and a sky high arabian double front on FX.  Upgrades are planned for this season's UB set.

Fellow Sophomore Kim Lewis was voted Most Improved in 2002.  Her best event is FX, where she mounts with a triple twist and shows good extension.  She also contributes on UB (Shaposhnikov, blind-Healy to Jaeger and BB.  Courtney Canavan also returns, having competed most last season on the vault (training a Hristakaeva) and BB.  

The Newcomers

The Washington newcomers are led by a pair of former senior international elites and Junior Olympic National AA Champions, Kelly McDonald and Christina Pelaez.  McDonald, from Cascade Elite, was the 2002 L10 National Champ in the AA, BB and FX.  With big skills and excellent execution, McDonald is expected to be a major contributor after a strong Fall training season.  A long time pupil of Husky Assistant Coach Frank Lee, McDonald also excels on the UB, where she placed 2nd at JO Nationals.  

Pelaez hails from the Desert Devils, and was the 2000 L10 National Champ in the AA, UB and FX.  She finished 5th AA, 2nd (t) V, and 2nd on UB in 2001.  With beautiful long lines and big skills, Peleaz was another highly sought after recruit.  On UB, she is known for the "Pelaez" flip (JO code), a clear hip circle to front salto regrasp from low to high (Weiler kip to front salto).  On FX, she has shown a front to triple full and double pike dismount.

The Huskies also welcome Jenny Ehlers, from Gymnastics Plus, who finished 29th AA at the 2002 L10 Nationals, in her third trip to Nationals.  Yet another gymnast from Cascade Elite, Bijoya "BJ" Das, is a former L9 Western National champ on FX.  From Eastern Washington comes Carmen Jordan (Northwest Gymnastics Academy), who placed 3rd AA at L9 Regionals in 2002.

Outlook

For the Huskies, injuries and rapid recoveries will be the key watch words.  Full of potential and promise, the Huskies look to keep a talented core performing to their maximum potential.  On the leg events, the large number of lower body injuries impacts the overall team depth.  Despite this, the Huskies can field six 10.0 SV vaults and have a good array of tumbling skills on display.  On UB, injury losses will also hurt the depth, but the Huskies routines have enough D releases and E dismounts to avoid the newer compositional deductions.  As with any team, BB will be a challenge, but this is where the experience will help and the injuries will impact the least.  And, Washington should get stronger as the season progresses, as long as further injury can be avoided.

As a Regional Host, the Huskies will be looking to maintain a Top 18 seed and retain a good home gym advantage.  The last time the Huskies hosted Regionals, they walked away with the title, defeating UCLA in the process.  This could be the "X Factor" that propels the Huskies back to Nationals.