Jan. 10, 2003

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Led by a 49.250 team score on balance beam that tied the second-best score in school history, the 16th-ranked University of Denver gymnastics team opened its 2003 season Friday night with a 196.425 - 193.300 win over Arkansas in the first-ever collegiate gymnastics competition at the University of Arkansas. The Pioneers (1-0) set four career-best marks in the meet and set a team-best score in a season-opener for the fifth consecutive season. Arkansas, starting 11 freshmen, falls to 0-1. Denver's 196.425 also tied the third-best team score in school history.

Denver began on the night on the uneven bars, where junior Rose Kiernan (Aspen, Colo.) got the Pioneers started with a career-best score of 9.725, besting her previous career-high of 9.3 set in 2001. Senior Michelle Kasuga (Defiance, Ohio) recorded the best score of any gymnast in the meet with a 9.925 that tied the second-best score in her career and junior Ashley Shible (Palm Harbor, Fla.) scored a 9.8 that tied her for third.

In the second rotation the Pioneers were on the vault, where sophomore Karyssa Ancellotti (Sugar Land, Texas) won the second vault title of her career with a 9.85, just edging out Shible, who finished second with a 9.825. Sophomore Jessica Kennedy (West Chester, Pa.) finished third with a 9.8 as the Pioneers took the top three spots in the event in scoring a 48.925.

Floor exercise was next for Denver, and the Pioneers hit on every routine in recording the ninth-best score in program history (49.325). Junior Emily Bankhead (Houston, Texas) tied her career-high and tied with Kasuga as both captured top honors with scores of 9.925. Ancellotti finished third with a 9.875 as Denver recorded each of the top four scores.

The final rotation had the Pioneers on balance beam where the Pioneers tied the second-highest score in school history with a 49.325. Bankhead and Kasuga again tied for top honors, as both finished with scores of 9.9. Shible finished third with a 9.875 and senior Jamie Martini (Houston, Texas) finished fourth with a 9.825.

Shible won the all-around title with a 39.325 followed by Bankhead (39.175) and Kasuga (39.125).

"I am really happy with how our athletes performed tonight," head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said. "To have the fourth-best score in program history is really special considering we accomplished it on the road, where we have to make adjustments to the equipment. I was really happy with how our athletes responded. The team worked really hard this preseason and I wanted them to know that they're hard work would paid off. This was our goal from last year, to open up stronger than we did last year and put ourselves in a good position right from the start and I feel like that's what we did tonight."

The Pioneers return to action next Saturday, Jan. 18 when they host No. 7 Stanford in the Alumni Challenge presented by Star Market at 6 p.m. The meet is Denver's home opener.

No. 16 Denver 196.425, Arkansas 193.300
Vault - Willingham 9.7; Kasuga 9.375; Kennedy 9.8; Bankhead 9.75; Ancellotti 9.85; Shible 9.825 - 48.925
Bars - Kiernan 9.725; Bankhead 9.6; Kennedy 9.7; Young 9.775; Shible 9.8; Kasuga 9.925 - 48.925
Beam - Kiernan 9.325; Ancellotti 9.75; Martini 9.825; Bankhead 9.9; Shible 9.875; Kasuga 9.9 - 49.250
Floor - Willingham 9.7; Kennedy 9.775; Ancellotti 9.875; Bankhead 9.925; Shible 9.825; Kasuga 9.925 - 49.325