Air Force Academy

LET'S GET IT STARTED: After traveling nearly 5000 miles for competition, the Air Force women's gymnastics team returns to the Academy for its first home meet of the season. Joining the Air Force wrestling team, the Falcons will host the inaugural "Beauty and the Beast" night on Friday (Feb. 10) at 7 p.m. The women will host Centenary and Wisconsin-Stout in the first of two triangular meets in the Cadet West Gym this weekend. The three teams will conclude competition on Sunday (Feb. 12) at 1 p.m.

LAST TIME WE MET: Air Force spent the second week of the season (Jan. 20) in Shreveport, La., to take on Centenary. The Falcons finished third with a score of 175.050 in the tri-meet that included Missouri. Missouri won the meet with a score of 195.550, while Centenary scored a 190.100 to finish second. This will be the first time this season that the Falcons have faced Wisconsin-Stout.

ROAD WARRIORS: The Falcons opened 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.

To Anchorage, Alaska 3289.64 miles
To Shreveport, La. 914.26 miles
To Denton, Texas 690.89 miles
To Denver, Colo. 68.59 miles

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: Heading back out on the road, the Falcons return to the Mile High City on Saturday, Feb. 18, when they take on Denver and Ohio State at 6 p.m., in the Hamilton Gymnasium.