Air Force Academy

LET'S GET IT STARTED: The Air Force women's gymnastics team closes out the first month of the season with a trip to Denton, Texas, as it takes on Texas Woman's University and Oklahoma on Sunday (Jan. 29) afternoon. The tri-meet is slated to begin at 2 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT: The Pioneers got the better of the Falcons last season, holding a 2-1 margin. Air Force won the season-opener, 188.925-186.150, before falling 191.125-189.650 in a mid-season match-up and again by a mark of 190.450-187.600 at the USA Gymnastics Championship preliminaries. Air Force did not face Oklahoma last season.

ONE TIME ONLY: After several years of meeting the Pioneers on several occasions over the course of the season, Sunday's competition will mark the only meeting of the season for the two programs.

ROAD WARRIORS: The Falcons open the season with four straight weeks on the road, traveling to such states as Alaska, Louisiana and Texas. In fact, Air Force will spend eight of the first nine weeks away from the Academy. Behind a pair of trips to Denver, the Falcons will also visit Washington, California and Kentucky.

A NEW FACE IN THE CROWD: In addition to the four newest Falcons, Air Force will also have a new face on the sideline, as Holly Tedeschi begins her first season as the head coach of the women's squad. Tedeschi, who served as an assistant coach with the program during the 2000-04 seasons, will be joined by second-year assistant coach 2Lt Tammy Ritchey.

OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN: The Falcons' lone senior class member, Lauren Robison, was named the team captain for the 2006 season. A 2004 USAG All-American in the all-around, Robison has also racked up numerous accolades from the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF), including all-conference second-team honors on the uneven bars, floor exercise and all-around as a junior. Robison has competed in every meet for the Falcons since her sophomore season, earning an all-around berth to the NCAA Regional Qualifier during each of the past two seasons.

SEASON IN A GLANCE: Youth will once again be the name of the game for the Air Force women's gymnastics team. The 2006 version of the squad features seven freshmen and sophomores, compared to just three juniors and one senior. Although those numbers may look daunting on paper, the experience of the seven returning gymnasts will blend perfectly with the talented enthusiasm of the newcomers.

ON THE HORIZON: Air Force gets a little closer to home on Saturday, Feb. 4, as it travels to Denver for the first of three meetings with the Pioneers.