Last week, the Hornets suffered falls on bars and beam en route to a 193.125-191.550 loss to Cal State Fullerton on Jan. 26 in the Hornets Nest.

UC Davis (2-3) tallied a season-high score of 191.625 to defeat Air Force (190.125) and Texas Women’s University (189.150) on Jan. 25 in Cadet West Gym.

Last season, the Aggies finished with a 12-11 overall record and a season-high score of 193.625. UC Davis also placed third at the USAG Collegiate National Team Finals and fourth at the MPSF Championships.

HEAD COACH KIM HUGHES

In his 21st year at the helm of the Hornet gymnastics program, head coach Kim Hughes has built a program from the ground up and has solidified Sacramento State as a contender in the NCAA West Region and Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

With a career record of 175-165-1, Hughes led the Hornets to a first-place finish at the 2002 MPSF Championships with the squad’s second-highest score in program history (194.900), including event champions on vault, beam, floor and all-around. Hughes also led the Hornets to a program-best Regional Qualifying Score of 194.070, the highest national ranking (40th) to end a season and the most NCAA West Regional qualifiers (three) since 1995.

He has directed Sacramento State to three-consecutive conference titles including successive Western Independent Championships in 2000 and 2001, and the squad’s first Div. I sanctioned title in school history (MPSF) last season. In 2002, Sacramento State also recorded program highs with consecutive meets above 193 (four), most scores over the 194-plateau (four) and most scores over the 193-mark (eight) in a season. Among his other accomplishments, Hughes guided Sacramento State to a second-place finish at the National Invitational Tournament in 2000 and gave the program its first regional bid in 1999 while also being named NCAA Region 1 Coach of the Year.

Hughes earned his first Coach of the Year Honors in 1984 when the Hornets were a member of the Div. II Northern California Athletic Conference. A graduate of Chico State in 1976, Hughes joined the Sacramento State women’s gymnastics program in 1977 and was named head coach in 1981. During his tenure, Hughes also guided the Hornets to Div. I status in 1992.

LAST WEEK''S MEETS

Junior Binta Coleman placed first in three of five events but Sacramento State could not overcome falls on bars and beam as the Hornets fell to Cal State Fullerton, 193.125-191.550, on Jan. 26 in the Hornets Nest.

Coleman, a native of Elk Grove, Calif., placed first on vault (9.775), floor (9.750) and all-around (a season-high 38.950). The junior also finished tied for third on bars (9.725) and fourth on beam (9.700) to also lead the squad.

Sophomore Meloney Greer placed first on bars (9.775), while freshmen Trista Condren and Kimiye Narasaki finished tied for second on vault (9.650) and sophomore Nirvana Zaher placed tied for third (9.700) on floor and fourth all-around (37.650) to also contribute for the Hornets.

THE UC DAVIS AGGIES

Ray Goldbar is in his 14th season as the Aggies head coach and has compiled a 117-127 career record with the program. Goldbar led the program to its first USA Gymnastics Collegiate national title in 1999. For his efforts, he received USAG Collegiate Coach of the Year honors that same season.

The Aggies have been led in the 2003 season by senior all-arounder Flora Bare. The Santa Cruz, Calif., native places first on the squad with an average score of 9.725 on beam and a 38.687 in all-around competition.

Last season, Sacramento State finished with a 2-1 record against the Aggies including a road victory in Recreation Hall (190.850-190.275).

TWO HORNETS END THEIR SEASONS

Senior Toni Petersen (finger) and sophomore Stefanie Aeder (wrist, elbow) will miss the remainder of the season due to injury. Aeder and Petersen will use a medical redshirt to retain their year of competition.

Aeder, who was named MPSF Gymnast of the Week on Jan. 13, was the Hornets’ top overall scorer after the first two meets while competing solely on floor due to the injuries on her left arm. In the season opener, she finished second against San Jose State with a score of 9.775. The Portland, Ore., native competed in her final competition on Jan. 12 vs. Cal and led all competitors with a career-high score of 9.875. During competitions, Aeder would tumble with a closed fist to lessen the blow to her injuries.

Petersen, who recovered from a stress fracture on her foot before the season began, dislocated and broke the index finger of her right hand during a bar routine last weekend and may require surgery. The Fresno, Calif., native has competed as an all-arounder in each of her three seasons with the Hornets. She currently holds the program record for all-around with a score of 39.325. Petersen also holds three scores of 9.900 on floor which places her tied for third all-time. In 2002, Petersen captured the all-around, vault and floor titles at the inaugural MPSF Championships on March 23. This season, Petersen was only competing on bars due to the recovery of her foot.

COLEMAN CATCHING FIRE

Binta Coleman has emerged as the Hornets’ top threat in every event after fellow all-arounder Toni Petersen was officially taken off of the active roster a week ago.

With Petersen on the shelf for the remainder of the season, the Elk Grove, Calif., native has led the Hornets with meet highs on vault (9.775), floor (9.750) and all-around (a season high 38.950) against Cal State Fullerton on Jan. 26, in the Hornets Nest. Coleman also finished with a team-high 9.700 on beam to also lead the squad. The junior has now led the Hornets in all-around competition in three of five meets this season.

In five meets, she has dominated the field by registering meet titles on floor (three), bars (two), all-around (two), vault (one) and beam (one).

HEALTH BECOMING A FACTOR

After three weeks, the Hornet coaching staff has already endured season ending injuries to Toni Petersen (all-around) and Stefanie Aeder (vault, beam, floor), but the list does not end there.

Freshman Jamie Donkin, who had secured a position on the beam squad, suffered a knee injury (ACL) during a beam routine in practice and is done for the season. The El Dorado, Calif., native recorded a season high 9.650 on the event in her first collegiate competition on Jan. 26.

Nirvana Zaher has been plagued with a sore back through most of the season and did not practice during the week. She is expected to sit out this weekend’s competition to rest the injury.

Kimiye Narasaki suffered a hip pointer (bruise) after falling on the beam during her practice routine this week. The Richmond, Calif., native will rest for the remainder of the week and is expected to compete against UC Davis.

Senior Jenny Diamond has been bothered by a head cold during the week but is expected to compete this weekend.

HORNET NOTABLES

Along with Jamie Donkin, freshman Sharee Burgess registered her first team score (9.575, floor) in her first collegiate competition...freshman Courtney Purdy competed in her first collegiate exhibition on Jan. 26. The Rocklin, Calif., native earned a score of 9.500.