Air Force Academy

Jan. 27, 2002

The Air Force women's gymnastics team took first place (190.375) in their season opener as they hosted the Rocky Mountain Open Saturday evening with Illinois State Univ. (189.150) and Winona State Univ. (182.325) in attendance.

Illinois State managed to win two of the events, scoring a 47.125 on vault to Air Force's 47.025 and a 47.175 on bars to Air Force's 46.700. Winona State scored a 46.300 on vault and 42.925 on bars. C2C (Jr.) Jennifer Dougherty took second on vault (9.575) while C2C Kimberly Broughton placed third on bars.

The Falcons won the beam competition (48.450) with C1C (Sr.) Bethany Stott taking the first-place spot (9.900), followed by C4C (Fr.) Jessa Liegl (9.800). C2C Allison Todd took fourth (9.625). Illinois State finished on beam with a score of 47.550, followed by Winona State with a 46.725.

Dougherty placed first on the floor exercise scoring a 9.775, with Stott and C1C Courtney Hamrick tying for second with a score of 9.650. Air Force won the event with a team score of 48.200. Illinois State finished with a 47.300, and Winona State with a 46/375.

The Falcons returned to action this weekend after a very successful 2000-2001 season with its first-ever team title in the finals of the USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championships. The Falcons broke 11 Air Force women's gymnastics records, maintained a team GPA of over 3.0, and had 11 individual USAG Collegiate All-Americans including the national beam champion, Bethany Stott. Head coach Lisa Woody was named the North Central Region Women's Gymnastics Coach of the Year and the USAG Collegiate Head Coach of the Year for women's gymnastics for the 2000-2001 season. She helped the women's team to be the first in AFA history to qualify for a NCAA Division I postseason event. The Falcons finished the season with an overall 11-10 record and a 3-2 dual meet record.

The Falcons will be back in action again next weekend when Air Force hosts UC Santa Barbara and Texas Woman's Univ. in co-ed meet Feb. 1 and 3. Friday's meet begins at 7:30 p.m.