April 17, 2003

DENTON, Texas --- Lynn Schwaebe posted an All-America finish of eighth place in the individual all-around with a combined score of 38.225 as UC Davis placed fifth overall in the women's preliminaries of the USA Gymnastics Collegiate Nationals at Texas Woman's University Thursday.

The Aggies recorded a team score of 191.750, just ahead of Centenary College's sixth-place total of 191.475 but behind fourth-place U.S. Air Force Academy, which scored 192.175. The top four teams advance to Friday's team final. The host Pioneers compiled a 194.650 to win the prelims, with Seattle Pacific (192.675) and Temple University (192.400) placing second and third, respectively.

The fifth-place showing represents the first time UC Davis failed to advance to the team final since 1997, when the Aggies finished sixth at the meet.

Schwaebe and sophomore teammate Tiffany Chan advance to Saturday's event championship by virtue of their top-eight performances in Thursday's prelims. Schwaebe scored a 9.700 on vault to place in a three-way tie for sixth in that event. Chan, the defending USAG collegiate champion on floor, recorded a 9.875 to share first place with TWU's Jonica Scott, Luci Romberg and Amber McMeans.

Sophomore Nicole Doherty just missed advancing to the event finals on balance beam, placing in a tie for 10th with a team-best 9.650 mark. Freshman Arianne Furman highlighted the Aggies on bars, scoring a career-high 9.750 to share 10th place with Schwaebe.

UC Davis opened with a solid 47.625 on bars, getting additional help from Michelle Naito's 9.675 and Jenna Mayfield's 9.300 efforts. The beam squad counted two falls to turn in a 46.975. However, Furman's 9.550 and Doherty's 9.650 helped keep the Aggies within range of the pack.

Sophomore Tiffany Chan scored a 9.875 to join a four-way tie for first place on floor exercise. She will advance to Saturday's event championship in an effort to defend her 2002 title in that event.

Freshman Mei-Ling Clark led off the floor rotation with a career-best 9.800. Schwaebe put up a 9.800 and Chan added her first-place mark of 9.875 to help give the Aggies a 48.975 on that apparatus, the second-highest mark on any event for the Aggies in the 2003 season.

UC Davis put up a 47.975 on vault to finish the meet, getting the added boost of a season-best 9.575 by Valerie Yep in only her second appearance of the year.

TWU's Luci Romberg won the individual all-around at 39.250, edging Laura Frank's second-place 39.050. Allison Todd of Air Force finished third at 39.000 while Pioneer Lindsey Clowers placed fourth with a 38.750.

Thursday's action represented the final meet for seniors Mayfield, Naito, Vanessa Baume and Flora Bare. Schwaebe will make her final appearance on Saturday in the vault championships.

USA GYMNASTICS COLLEGIATE NATIONAL WOMEN'S TEAM PRELIMINARIES

TEAM SCORES - 1. Texas Woman's 194.650; 2. Seattle Pacific 192.675; 3. Temple (Pa.) 192.400; 4. Air Force 192.175; 5. UC Davis 191.750; 6. Centenary (La.) 191.475; 7. Cornell (N.Y.) 190.725; 8. Bridgeport (Conn.) 184.925.

ALL-AROUND (All-Americans only) - 1. Luci Romberg, TWU, 39.250; 2. Laura Frank, AFA, 39.050; 3. Allison Todd, AFA, 39.000; 4. Lindsey Clowers, TWU, 38.750; 5. Corrie McDaniel, SPU, 38.525; 6. Erin Davis, Temple, 38.475; 7. Sarah Wesley, Southern Connecticut State, 38.250; 8. Lynn Schwaebe, UC Davis, 38.225.

VAULT (Top 8 only) - 1. Kari Kelly, SPU, 9.775; 2 (tie) Luci Romberg, TWU; Jessica Brozovich, TWU, 9.750; 4 (tie). Lindsey Clowers, TWU; Kim Holland, TWU, 9.725; 6 (tie). Dana Giametta, TWU; Rachel Anderson, SPU; Lynn Schwaebe, UC Davis, 9.700.

UNEVEN BARS (Top 8 only) - 1. Luci Romberg, TWU, 9.875; 2 (tie). Stephanie Loudat, TWU; Chelsie Leggett, TWU, 9.850; 4 (tie). Kristen Strid, SPU; Jennie Jackson, Cent.; Paige Ozaroski, Temple, 9.825; 7 (tie). Allison Todd, AFA; Janelle Thibault, Cent, 9.800.

BALANCE BEAM (Top 8 only) - 1 (tie). Laura Frank, AFA; Stephanie Loudat, TWU, 9.825; 3. Erin Davis, Temple, 9.775; 4 (tie). Lindsey Clowers, TWU; Luci Romberg, TWU; Jennifer Beaver, Temple; 9.750; 7. Shellen Goltz, Cornell, 9.725; 8 (tie). Allison Todd, AFA; Paige Ozaroski, Temple, 9.700.

FLOOR EXERCISE (Top 8 only) - 1 (tie). Tiffany Chan, UC Davis; Jonica Scott, TWU; Luci Romberg, TWU; Amber McMeans, TWU, 9.875; 5 (tie). Laura Frank, AFA; Allison Todd, AFA; Cicely Warrington, Temple; Sarah Racioppi, Cent., 9.850.

-mh-