In Sacramento State’s last competition, the Hornets were beset with injuries but managed their highest score of the season with a 192.325-191.325 win over UC Davis on Feb. 2 at Recreation Hall. Sacramento State currently ranks ninth in the West Region with an average of 190.246.

San Jose State (4-8) tallied a program-record score of 195.100 to defeat UC Davis (192.025) on Feb. 8 in Spartan Gym. The Spartans are seventh in the West Region with an average of 192.112.

Earlier in the season, San Jose State defeated Sacramento State 191.300-187.275 on Jan. 10 in Spartan Gym.

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 176-165-1, 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.

A LOOK AT THE LATEST ACTION

Senior Jenny Diamond and freshman Kimiye Narasaki each recorded event titles to lead Sacramento State to a 192.325-191.325 win over UC Davis on Feb. 2 at Recreation Hall.

Narasaki, a native of Richmond, Calif., placed first on vault (9.825), tied for first on beam (9.775), was second all-around (38.900), and tied for third on floor (9.775) to lead the Hornets. Narasaki’s all-around score was a season and team high. Diamond, a native of Murray, Utah, tied Narasaki on beam with a 9.775 while also placing second on vault (9.700) and tying for third on floor.

Sophomore Jessica Hoffman placed third in the all-around with a mark of 38.050. The Escondido, Calif., native also tied for second on bars with a 9.775 while registering a 9.650 on vault and a 9.550 on floor.

Freshmen Trista Condren (9.750, floor) and Sharee Burgess (9.700, floor) also contributed for the Hornets. For Burgess, a native of Stockton, Calif., it was her season high.

THE SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS

Wayne Wright is in his second season as the Spartan’s head coach after compiling a 12-9 record in his first season with the program. Wright had previously served as an assistant with Stanford (1997-2001) and San Jose State (1988-1986) before taking over the program.

San Jose State is led by senior all-arounder Dani Albright and junior all-arounder Shirla Choy in the 2003 season. Albright, a native of Morgan Hill, Calif., leads the Spartans and the MPSF on vault with an average of 9.742. Choy, a native of University Palace, Wash., leads the squad on bars (9.758), floor (9.787) and all-around (38.512). Choy’s vault average also places her first in the conference.

Last season, the Hornets finished 4-0 against the Spartans including a dual-meet victory (193.500-192.450) on Feb. 10 at the Hornets Nest.

THREE HORNETS END THEIR SEASONS

Senior Toni Petersen (finger), sophomore Stefanie Aeder (wrist, elbow) and freshman Jamie Donkin (knee) will miss the remainder of the season due to injury. All three athletes 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 scorer after the first two meets while competing solely on floor due to the injuries on her left arm. 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 on Jan. 18 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. In 2002, Petersen captured the all-around, vault and floor titles at the inaugural MPSF Championships on March 23.

Donkin, who had earned a spot on the beam squad, injured the anterior cruciate ligament on her right knee while performing a practice routine on beam. The El Dorado, Calif., native recorded a score of 9.650 in her first collegiate competition on Jan. 26 before suffering the injury.

HEALTH BECOMING A FACTOR

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

Nirvana Zaher has been plagued with a sore back through most of the season and did not practice during the week. She sat out the meet against UC Davis on Feb. 2. She is expected to compete on Sunday.

Binta Coleman suffered a sprained left ankle while performing a practice routine on Feb. 1. Coleman sat out the meet against UC Davis and is expected to sit out this weekend against the Spartans.

FILLING IN THE HOLES

With the Hornets’ injuries in recent weeks, several different members of the squad have had to step up into different roles.

In the meet against the Aggies, sophomore Jessica Hoffman competed as an all-arounder for the first time in her collegiate career and placed third with a score of 38.050. She registered the score by competing on beam for the first time since Jan. 19 of last season.

Senior Sarina Williams recorded her first team score on beam with a career high 9.550. The Santa Rosa, Calif., native previously scored a 9.250 against Boise State last season.

Senior Brooke Crowell competed on bars for the first time in her collegiate career and registered a team score of 9.500. The Santa Cruz, Calif., had served primarily as a one-event specialist on vault for the past three years.

Sophomore Kelly Turner recorded a 9.475 in her first career floor routine. The Houston native had only competed in exhibitions prior to the meet and has also served as a beam specialist.

HORNET NOTABLES

After Sunday’s meet, the Hornets will compete on the road for two weeks (four meets) and will not return to the Hornets Nest until March 14.