2003-04 Rhode Island College Junior Ashley O Blenis 30 Women s Gymnastics
The 2003-04 Rhode Island College Women s Gymnastics Team Front Row (left to right): Head Coach Bob Nannig, Katelyn Guignard, Kevin Hurley, Kristina Lemanis, Michaela Hogan, Caren Normandin, Melissa Jones, Cassie O Blenis, Danielle Soucy, Assistant Coach Tracy Gannon. Back Row (left to right): Courtney Sylvia, Nicki Turner, Hannah Scott, Cristy Pforr, Ashley O Blenis, Megan Joseph, Rachelle Cyr, Staci Freedman. 2003-04 Rhode Island College Women s Gymnastics Roster Name Year Event(s) Hgt. Hometown/High School Rachelle Cyr Sophomore BB, FL 5-2 Bristol, RI/Mt. Hope Staci Freedman Junior V, BB, FL 5-0 Raynham, MA/Bridgewater-Raynham Katelyn Guignard Sophomore UB, BB, FL 5-2 Newton, NJ/Lenape Valley Michaela Hogan Junior All-Around 5-2 Warwick, RI/Toll Gate Kevin Hurley Senior V, BB 5-5 Westerly, RI/Westerly Melissa Jones Freshman All-Around 5-4 Cranston, RI/Cranston West Megan Joseph Freshman All-Around 5-3 Hope, RI/Coventry Kristina Lemanis Freshman All-Around 5-6 Smithtown, NY/Smithtown Caren Normandin Junior All-Around 5-5 Fall River, MA/Durfee Ashley O Blenis Junior All-Around 5-1 Warren, RI/Mt. Hope Cassie O Blenis Freshman All-Around 5-4 Warren, RI/Mt. Hope Cristy Pforr Sophomore All-Around 5-2 Pembroke, MA/Silver Lake Hannah Scott Freshman All-Around 5-2 Deep River, CT/Valley Regional Danielle Soucy Freshman All-Around 5-5 Gloucester, MA/Gloucester Courtney Sylvia Freshman All-Around 5-3 Seekonk, MA/Seekonk Nicki Turner Senior V, BB 5-0 Salem, NH/Salem Head Coach: Assistant Coach: Captains: Bob Nannig Tracy Gannon Michaela Hogan, Caren Normandin 31
Meet the Coaches Head Coach Bob Nannig Bob Nannig enters his first season as the head women s gymnastics coach. He spent the 2002-03 season as an assistant coach with the Anchorwomen gymnastics team. I am excited about the position, Nannig says. I am familiar with the team and we are looking forward to a successful season in 2003-04. Nannig previously served as the Director of Boys Gymnastics at Aim High Academy in East Greenwich. He has extensive experience in camp coaching, first at the Woodwar d Camp in Pennsylvania and at URI s summer gymnastics camp, having worked there from 1995-2001. Nannig also served as the owner and head coach of the North Kingstown Gymnastics Center from 1982-87. He previously served as the gymnastics coach at Kingston Dance & Gymnastics from 1981-1982. Nannig received a bachelor s degree in physical education from Springfield College in 1981. While at Springfield, he lettered in gymnastics from 1977-80. He earned a master s degree in physical education administration from the University of Rhode Island in 1999. He also works as a physical education teacher at Cranston High School West and has taught in the school system for 13 years. He was honored as the R.I.A.H.P.E.R.D. Secondary Education Teacher of the Year in 2002. Nannig lives in North Kingstown, Rhode Island with his wife, JoAnn, and their two daughters, Haley (10) and Jade (16). Assistant Coach Tracy Gannon Tracy Gannon begins her first season as the assistant women s coach at Rhode Island College. She is responsible for assisting head coach Bob Nannig with all phases of the RIC women s gymnastics program including recruiting, scouting, administering practices and meet coaching. Gannon s most recent coaching experience was as the head women s gymnastics coach at North Kingstown High School from 1995-99. She was named the Rhode Island Directors Association and Rhode Island Interscholastic League s Female Coach of the Year in 1999. Gannon also served as an assistant gymnastics coach at the University of Rhode Island during the 1993-94 season. She graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a bachelor s degree in physical education in 1992 and earned a master s degree in physical therapy from URI in 1994. During her undergraduate years, she competed for the Rams women s gymnastics squad. Gannon currently resides with her husband Mike and two children Casey (4) and Jack (1) in Warwick, Rhode Island. 32
2003-04 Rhode Island College Women s Gymnastics Schedule Day Date Opponent Time Sat. Jan. 17 at Wilson w/ursinus & MIT 1 p.m. Sun. Jan. 25 SUNY - Brockport, 1 p.m. SUNY - Cortland & MIT Sat. Jan. 31 at SUNY-Cortland 1 p.m. Fri. Feb. 6 at University of Bridgeport 7 p.m. Sun. Feb. 8 Wilson College 1 p.m. Sat. Feb. 14 at Southern Connecticut 1 p.m. Sat. Feb. 21 at Harriet Marranca Invitational # 1 p.m. Fri. Mar. 5 Springfield & Brown 7 p.m. Sun. Mar. 14 at Brown w/mit & Bridgeport 1 p.m. Sun. Mar. 21 at ECAC Championships % 1 p.m. Fri./Sat. Apr. 2-3 at NCGA Championships & TBA # hosted by Ithaca College % hosted by SUNY - Brockport & hosted by M.I.T. Junior Staci Freedman 33
Final 2002-03 Women s Gymnastics Statistics 2002-03 RIC Women s Gymnastics: Meet-by-Meet Results 2-6 overall record; Seventh Place at the ECAC Championships Date Opponent H/A/N W/L Score Record Site 01/22 MIT * H W 176.300-174.275 1-0 Providence, RI 01/25 Wilson * A W 177.200-166.025 2-0 Chambersburg, PA 02/05 at MIT * A L 174.550-179.150 2-1 Cambridge, MA 02/09 Bridgeport H L 178.950-183.100 2-2 Providence, RI 02/16 Southern Connecticut H L 179.900-182.775 2-3 Providence, RI 02/22 Ithaca Invitational A 4th place (5 teams) 178.900 2-3 Ithaca, NY 02/23 SUNY-Cortland * A L 180.125-184.925 2-4 Cortland, NY 03/02 Springfield * A L 182.750-183.450 2-5 Springfield, MA 03/02 Southern Connecticut N L 182.750-185.725 2-6 Springfield, MA 03/14 ECAC Championships + A 7th place (8 teams) 179.550 2-6 Cortland, NY 03/29 NCGA Championships # N Individual Qualifiers 2-6 Eau Claire, WI Shannon Hughey (vault, bars); Ashley O Blenis (floor); Caren Normandin (all-around) * ECAC Div. III opponent % at Springfield College + hosted by SUNY-Cortland # hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire 2002-03 Individual Statistics Note: first number is the average; number in parentheses is the season-high score for that event * denotes school record SEASON-HIGH SCORES FOR EACH EVENT Name Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around Rachelle Cyr ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- Staci Freedman 8.919 (9.125) 8.036 (8.675) 9.039 (9.350) 9.189 (9.375) 35.183 (36.525) Jessica Frey ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- Katelyn Guignard ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- Shannon Hughey 9.050 (9.325) 9.150 (9.650*) 7.738 (8.275) 9.236 (9.425) 34.996 (35.700) Nikki Longo 8.986 (9.225) 8.587 (9.400) 8.917 (8.675) 8.175 (8.450) 34.438 (34.900) Caren Normandin 9.138 (9.325) 8.578 (9.325) 9.210 (9.475*) 9.095 (9.400) 36.020 (36.925) Ashley O Blenis 9.017 (9.175) 8.906 (9.100) 8.764 (9.425) 9.440 (9.700*) 36.117 (36.925) Cristy Pforr 8.617 (8.650) 7.133 (7.400) ----------------- 8.588 (8.900) ----------------- Nicole Simone ----------------- ----------------- 8.286 (8.875) 8.703 (9.400) ----------------- Heather Turano 8.585 (9.025) 6.900 (7.850) ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- Nicki Turner ----------------- ----------------- 8.817 (8.900) ----------------- ----------------- 34
Meet the Team Rachelle Cyr Beam/Floor, 5-2, Sophomore Bristol, RI (Mt. Hope) 2002-03 Season: Was a reserve on the team. High School: Competed in gymna stics while at Mt. Hope High School...2002 graduate. Personal: Born Ma y 8, 1984...undecided about a major. Coach N an nig s Commen ts: Rachelle is a hard worker in practice. We look to her to contribute on both the floor and beam throughout the season. Staci Freedman Vault/Beam/Floor, 5-0, Junior Raynham, MA (Bridgewater-Raynham) Sophomore Y ear (2002-03): Averaged scores of 8.919 on vault, 8.036 on bars, 9.039 on beam, 9.189 on floor a nd 35.183 in the alla round... se ason-high m ar ks were 9.125 on vault, 8.675 on bars, 9.350 on beam, 9.375 on floor and 36.525 in the all-around. High School: Placed second at the Ne w Engla nd C ham pion ships...all-star sele ction and a member of the 99 State Championship team while at Bridgewater-Raynham High School...2000 graduate. Personal: Born Novem be r 5, 1982...finance m ajor... t r a n s f e r from the University of Massachusetts. Coach Nannig s Comments: Staci is a strong three-event athlete. She competed on vault last season and contributed well. We look to see her continue to contribute to the overall team score. Katelyn Guignard Bars/Beam/Floor, 5-2, Sophomore Newton, NJ (Lenape Valley) Freshman Year (2002-03): Was a reserve on the team. High School: Competed for the Schutz Gymnastics Club Team...second place at the cheerleading nationals in 2001...2002 graduate of Lenape Valley High School. Personal: Born May 2, 1984...art education major. Katelyn will compete in three events for us this winter. She is improving her tumbling skills and will be looked to contribute mainly on floor. Michaela Hogan All-Around, 5-2, Junior Warwick, RI (Toll Gate) 2002-03 Season: Redshirted. Sop homore Year (2001-02): Injured her knee while competing on beam at the ECAC Championships and was lost for the remainder of the sea son...sea son-h igh mar ks we re 8.650 on vault, 8.750 on bars, 8.700 on floor, 8.150 on beam and 33.400 in the all-around. Freshman Year (2000-01): Averaged scores of 8.317 on vault, 7.635 on bars and 8.325 on floor...season-high marks were 8.500 on vault, 8.700 on bars, and 8.475 on floor...placed 20th on bars at the 2001 ECAC Championships with a score of 8.500. High School: Earned First-Team All-State honors while at Toll Gate High School...2000 graduate...named First-Team All-Division three times...competed on the Rhode Island High School National Gymnastics Team. Personal: Born September 3, 1982...biology major. 35
Meet the Team Kevin Hurley Vault/Beam, 5-5, Senior Westerly, RI (Westerly) Junior Year (2002-03): Averaged a score of 8.700 on vault...received a season-high mark of 8.700 on vault vs. Springfield. High School: Competed in gymna stics while a t Westerly High School...2000 graduate. Personal: Born June 16, 1982...criminal justice major...transfer from the Community College of Rhode Island. Coach Nannig s Comments: Kevin is a senior who has strong vaulting skills. She should be one of the better vaulters on the squad. Melissa Jones All-Around, 5-4, Freshman Cranston, RI (Cranston West) High School: Competed in gymna stics wh ile at Cr anston H igh School West...2002 graduate. Pe rsonal: Bor n Au gust 2, 1984...com munications major... t r a n s- fer from the Unive rsity of Rhode Island. Melissa is a transfer student from URI. She should definitely be competing for us on floor, beam and vault while continuing to improve her bar skills. from Endicott College. Megan Joseph All-Around, 5-3, Freshman Hope, RI (Coventry) High School: Two-time All-State selection while at Cove ntry H igh School...2002 graduate...earned First- Tea m All-State honor s thr e e times...competed on the Rhode Island High School Senior Na tiona l Team...named All-New England in 2002. Personal: Born June 30, 1984...elementa ry e duca tion m ajor... t r a n s f e r Coach Nannig s Comments: Megan will contribute as an allaround gymnast. She showed she can compete with the best of them as she was a top finisher in the high school state competition as a senior. Kristina Lemanis All-Around, 5-6, Freshman Smithtown, NY (Smithtown) High School: Competed in gymna stics w hile at Sm ithtow n H igh School...2003 graduate. Pe rsonal: Born N ove mber 17, 1985...undecided about a major. Kristina is a hard-working newcomer who should se e tim e on floor, bea m and bars. She continues to improve on vault with hopes to compete in the all-around by the end of the year. 36
Meet the Team Caren Normandin All-Around, 5-5, Junior Fall River, MA (Durfee) Soph omore Y ear (2002-03): Qualified in the all-around for the 2003 NCGA Championships...placed 24th on vault (8.975), 54th on bars (7.225), 16th on beam (9.100), 40th on floor (9.325) and 15th in the a llaround (34.625)...averaged scores of 9.138 on vault (team-high), 8.578 on bars, 9.210 on be am (te am-high ), 9.095 on floor and 36.020 in the alla round...season-h igh m ar ks wer e 9.325 on vault, 9.325 on bars, 9.475 on beam and 36.850 in the allaround...her 9.475 score on beam tied the highest mark in RIC history on that event. Freshman Year (2001-02): Named the team s Most Valuable P l a y e r...comp eted as a vault spe cia list at th e 2002 NCGA Championships...posted season-high marks of 9.325 on vault, 9.100 on bars, 9.400 on beam, 9.400 on floor and 36.625 in the all-around. High School: Named Massachusetts Gymnast of the Year in 2001 while at B.M.C. Durfee High School...2001 graduate...named Fall River Herald News All-Star and Athlete of the Week. Personal: Born July 1, 1983...elementary education major with a minor in special education. Ashley O Blenis All-Around, 5-1, Junior Warren, RI (Mt. Hope) Sop homore Year (2002-03): Qualified on floor for the 2003 NCGA Championships...placed 24th with a s c o r e of 9.525...a ve raged scores of 9.017 on vault, 8.906 on bars, 8.764 on beam, 9.440 on floor (team-high) and 3 6. 117 in the a ll-ar ou nd (team - high)...season-high marks were 9.175 on vault, 9.425 on beam and 36.925 in the all-around, 9.100 on bars a nd 9.700 on floor. Freshman Year (2001-02): Averaged scores of 8.488 on vault, 7.888 on bars, 8.380 on beam, 8.958 on floor and 33.713 in the allaround on the season...posted season-high marks of 8.850 on vault, 8.250 on bars, 8.900 on beam, 9.375 on floor and 34.700 in the allaround. High School: Named team MVP and First Team All-State in 2000 and 2001 while at Mt. Hope High School...2001 graduate. Personal: Born August 26, 1983...elementary education major with a minor in English. Cassie O Blenis All-Around, 5-4, Freshman Warren, RI (Mt. Hope) High S chool: Earn ed Second Tea m All-State honor s from 1999-2003 while at Mt. Hope H igh School...2003 grad uate... attended State Ch am pion ships and Senior Nationals. Pe rsonal: Born Ju ly 9, 1985...undecided about a major. Cassie was one of the top high school gymnasts in Rhode Island last season. She shows promise on all four events with floor and bars being her strongest events. Cristy Pforr All-Around, 5-2, Sophomore Pembroke, MA (Silver Lake) Fre shman Ye ar (2002-03): Averaged scores of 8.617 on vault, 7.133 on bars and 8.588 on floor...season-high marks were 8.650 on vault, 7.400 on bars and 8.900 on floor. High School: Lettered in gymnastics while at Silver Lake Regiona l H igh School...2002 grad uate...team MVP and captain during her senior season in 2001-02. Personal: Born July 12, 1984...elementary education major. Coach Nannig s Comments: Cristy was a team competitor last season whose all-around skills have improved. She should see time on all four events this season. 37
Meet the Team Hannah Scott All-Around, 5-2, Freshman Deep River, CT (Valley Regional) High School: Was the Class M Beam State Champion while at Valley Regional High School...2003 graduate...na med a Level 9 Be am Sta te Champ ion...mem ber of th e Connecticut High Sch ool Na tional Team. Personal: Bor n Novem ber 13, 1985...studio art major. Coach Nannig s Comments: Hannah is a strong all-around competitor, particularly on bars and vault. We look for her to compete on all four events and be one of our better gymnasts. Danielle Soucy All-Around, 5-5, Freshman Gloucester, MA (Gloucester) High School: Was a four- y e a r member of the varsity gymna stics te am wh ile at Gloucester H igh School...2002 graduate...named team captain as a senior. Personal: Born Apr il 12, 1983...English major with a minor in art...transfer fr om the University of Rhode Island. Coach Nannig s Comments: Danielle is a str ong competitor who will perform well on bars and vault. She will most likely compete in the other events as well this winter. Courtney Sylvia All-Around, 5-3, Freshman Seekonk, MA (Seekonk) High School: Competed in varsity gymnastics while at Seekonk High School... 2003 gr adua te...mem ber of the Paramount Gymnastics Sr. Team and was an AAU Jr. Olympic competitor. Pe rsonal: Born Jun e 13, 1985, 1985...communications major. Courtney is an all-around gymnast who shows promise on all events. She had a successful high school career and we hope with her hard work in the gym, the success will continue. Nicki Turner Vault/Beam, 5-0, Senior Salem, NH (Salem) Junior Year (2002-03): Averaged a score of 8.817 on beam...recorded a season-high mark of 8.900 on that event vs. Cortland. Sop homore Year (2001-02): Missed the majority of the season after tearing her ACL over Christmas Break...was averaging scores of 8.150 on vault, 6.925 on bars and 8.300 on floor prior to the injury...posted season-high marks of 8.350 on vault, 7.200 on bars and 8.450 on floor. Freshman Year (2000-01): Averaged scores of 8.663 on vault, 8.521 on beam and 8.872 on floor...recorded season-high marks of 9.225 on vault and 9.100 on beam. High School: Four-time All-American while at Salem (NH) High School...2000 graduate...named her high school s gymnastics team s Most Valuable Player as a junior and senior. Personal: Born September 3, 1981...elementary education education major with a concentration in special education...minoring in psychology. 38