2005-06 Outlook
After experiencing an inconsistent 2005 season hampered by injuries and illness, head coach Ken Anderson, in his 21st year at the helm of Temple's women's gymnastics program, is optimistic about this coming season. With the arrival of five promising freshmen and the maturing sophomore, junior and senior classes coming into their own as gymnasts, Anderson looks forward to a competitive, successful season.
Anderson has high hopes for this year's squad and has established challenging but attainable goals for his team. The primary goals are to achieve a set score of 188.000 at the first match of the season, consistently break team and individual records, and have a winning season. Anderson's main objective is to lead his team to one of the top three positions in the ECAC's.
Senior co-captains Lindsey Stern and Dierdre Mattocks will lead the team in the 2006 season. Stern, a consistent bar worker who is graceful on the beam, enters the season after recovering from a sprained ankle. Stern competed in both the floor and vault events last season and has the ability to compete in the all-around event. Anderson and assistant coach Aaron Murphy have high expectations for Stern this year. Although she dislocated her elbow in the second to last meet of the 2005 season, Mattocks was last year's top bar worker. In addition to excelling on the bar, Mattocks is extremely strong in the floor and vault events. "In order to compete well as a team, it is essential that we have Dierdre on the bars" said Anderson. This year's senior class has two additional assets in Christine Zimmerman and Jennifer Blatt. Zimmerman performed very well on the beam last season and Anderson anticipates her to continuing to excel in that event. Blatt, last year's Most Improved Gymnast, is slated to compete in the bar, vault and beam events this season. She was a reliable vaulter and balance beam worker last season who managed to break into the bars event on several occasions.
The junior class has reached a new level of confidence that will help propel the team to success. Noelle Moore, who sat out most of last season with an ankle injury, is hoping for a big return. Moore was the top beam and floor scorer in her freshman year. Fellow junior Jillian Kornett has the ability to break into the line-up on all four events this season. Sarah Liebowitz, who is returning from an injury, broke a school record with an uneven bars score of 9.90 during the 2004 season. Though she was not able to perform at her fullest at the Conference Championship last year, it looks as though she will compete in the All-Around event this year.
The Owl sophomores look to be an exceptionally strong group. Desireé Meredith, described as a "powerhouse gymnast" by her coaches, pushes herself beyond the limits of even the men's squad. She has a "win practice" attitude and is projected to be the team's top vaulter this year. Christine McNeill has evolved into a more confident performer this year whose standout event will be the uneven bars. Brittany Matthews did not get to see too much competition last year but now has the capabilities to compete in the bar, floor and vault events. Alicia Petitto qualified for the USAG College National Championships on floor exercise in the 2005 season. She is expected to compete in the three other events this year. Nicole Catrambone works the all-around. Her biggest potential is in the vault event where she is incredibly powerful.
The talented incoming freshman class looks promising. Natasha Crawford will be a force in the all-around event. Walk-on Nikki Berrian's strongest event will be the uneven bars where she exhibits no fear and "high flying skills". Winter Sneed will use her dynamic personality and dancing abilities to join the floor exercise line-up.
Anderson sees he 2006 squad picking up where last year's team left off and moving even farther forward. He feels that the incoming freshmen and upperclassmen will step up their performances to higher levels. The team has a strong bond this year. The squad looks focused in the gym and seems determined to achieve the goals lined up for the season. To sum up his feeling for the season, Anderson simply states: "I think we are going to surprise a lot of people this year".
