In Sacramento State’s last competition, the Hornets recorded a season-high 192.575, but placed third at the Cal State Fullerton tri-meet on March 9 at Titan Gym. San Jose State placed first with a score of 194.050 while the Titans finished second with a 193.625. Sacramento State has now increased its overall score in two-consecutive meets.

Last week, Seattle Pacific finished third against 10th-ranked Oregon State and 13th-ranked Denver on March 7 at Gill Coliseum. The Beavers finished first with a 197.050 while the Pioneers (194.250) and Falcons (190.625).

In the MPSF standings, Sacramento State is second with a Regional Qualifying Score of 191.510 while Seattle Pacific is fifth with a score of 189.450. San Jose State is first in the conference (193.775) with UC Davis (190.640, third), Air Force (190.430, fourth) and Alaska Anchorage (185.595, sixth) rounding out the rest of the conference.

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 176-174-1, 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.

THE SEATTLE PACIFIC FALCONS

Laurel Tindall is in her 28th season as the Falcons’ head coach and has compiled a 329-310-1 career record with the program. Tindall led the Falcons to a pair of USAG championships in 1992 and 1997.

Seattle Pacific is led by seniors Rachael Anderson and Kristin Strid and sophomore Corrie McDaniel. Anderson leads the squad on vault with an RQS of 9.595 and on floor with a 9.695. Strid is first on bars (9.670) and beam (9.645) while McDaniel is the Falcons’ top all-arounder with a 37.440.

A LOOK AT THE HORNETS

The Hornets are led by a different member of the squad in all five categories. Sophomore Nirvana Zaher leads the vault squad with an RQS of 9.760. Sophomore Meloney Greer is first on bars with a score of 9.715. Freshman Trista Condren leads all Hornets with a 9.630 on beam. Senior Jenny Diamond is first on floor with a 9.780 and sophomore Jessica Hoffman is the squad’s top all-arounder with a 37.925.