Since the women’s gymnastic team made their first appearance in the NCAA National Championships in 2001, the Pioneers have not returned.
This year however, coming into the season with their third straight top-20 ranking, the team is healthy and primed to get back where they finished in 2001.
The team has already competed in four meets and currently sits at a No.14 ranking in the country after several strong showings.
So far, the team has been led by star sophomore Heather Huffaker, the only returning member of the squad to qualify for the all-around competition at last year’s NCAA Nationals.
Last weekend, the team won the quadrangular meet at home against Boise State, North Carolina State and UC Davis.
The Pioneers finished with a final team score of 195.275.
Sophomore Casey Dobyns set career-highs on the floor exercise with a 9.9 as well as on the vault with a 9.95.
Huffaker took the all-around title with a score of 38.250 and is ranked No. 1 in the nation on the vault.
Previously, the Pioneers took their No.14 ranking into Cedar City, Utah on Jan. 18 to face unranked Southern Utah.
Despite posting a score of better than 195, their highest road score this season, the Pioneers lost their third meet by less than one point, falling to a 3-2 record.
Once again it was Huffaker leading the Pioneers, winning her second consecutive all-around crown, on top of three other event titles.
Asked about her early success this season, Huffaker said, “I feel really comfortable because I am coming off of a good year last season and know what to expect at the meets this year.”
Other solid scores at the meet came from two freshmen phenoms, Courtney Butler and Sasha Sullivan. Junior Cassidy Willingham added in some her best scores of the season, taking fifth place in the all-around.
“We’re a really young team,” said Willingham, “and I think we’re right on track for where we want to be by the end of the season. We have made a few mistakes here and there, but we have a ton of talent and can definitely build upon it.”
Huffaker shined in the Pioneers home opener against Iowa two weekends ago, the same team that narrowly defeated them in last year’s Regional Championship.
She won three events in addition to winning the competition’s all-around title.
Helping Huffaker in their route of Iowa were Sullivan and Butler, as well as the only senior on the team, Stephanie Lorber, and Dobyns.
Sullivan won her first ever collegiate floor exercise title, while Butler, Lorber and Dobyns all posted solid scores in each of their respective events.
Both Huffaker and Willingham also cited a great deal of depth and team chemistry as focal points for why the team has done so well already, and will continue to thrive toward their goal of making nationals this season, Huffacker said.
Huffaker said, “We have much less experience as a team this year compared to last, so we’ve worked much harder this year and I think that it has brought us much closer as a team.”
The team will square off against No.15 Iowa State on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. in Hamilton Gymnasium.
