FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   April 1, 2003   Rhode Island College 2002-03 Women’s Gymnastics Season Summary (2-6 Overall; 2-3 in the ECAC) Providence, RI--Head Coach Nicole Pannone’s team finished the 2002-03 season with a 2-6 overall record and a 2-3 mark against ECAC Div. III competition. The team placed seventh at the ECAC Championships with a score of 179.550. Three members of the team qualified for the 2003 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championships, which were hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Friday and Saturday, Mar. 28-29.   Senior Shannon Hughey (Warwick, RI) qualified for the NCGA Championships as a vault and bars specialist. It was the third consecutive season Hughey qualified for the NCGA Championships. She was unable to compete due to dual elbow dislocation injuries suffered in practice.   As a senior in 2002-03, Hughey broke her own school record on bars at the ECAC Championships, placing first overall with a score of 9.650. Hughey averaged scores of 9.050 on vault, 9.150 on bars (team-high), 7.738 on beam, 9.236 on floor and 34.996 in the all-around. Her season-high marks were as follows: 9.325 on vault vs. Springfield; 9.650 on bars at the ECAC Championships; 8.275 on beam vs. Wilson; 9.425 on floor vs. Southern Connecticut; 35.700 in all-around at the Ithaca Invitational.   As a junior in 2001-02, she competed at the 2002 NCGA Championships as a bars and floor specialist. Hughey averaged scores of 8.843 on vault, a team-high 8.789 on bars, 8.348 on beam, a team-high 9.055 on floor and 35.023 in the all-around on the season. Her season-high marks were as follows: 9.175 on vault and 9.475 on floor at the ECAC Championships; 9.250 on bars vs. MIT/Bridgeport; 9.200 on beam and 36.725 in the all-around vs. Springfield/Southern Connecticut.   As a sophomore in 2000-01, Hughey qualified for the 2001 NCGA Championships as an all-around specialist. She averaged scores of 8.813 on vault, 8.708 on bars, 8.043 on beam, 9.146 on floor and 34.630 in the all-around. Her season-high marks were as follows: 9.200 on vault vs. Bridgeport and at the ECAC Championships; 9.200 on bars at the ECAC Championships; 9.000 on beam vs. MIT; 9.550 on floor vs. Bridgeport; 36.525 in the all-around at the ECAC Championships.   As a freshman in 1999-00, she averaged scores of 8.446 on vault, 8.142 on bars, 7.629 on beam, 8.217 on floor and 32.433 in the all-around. She posted season-high marks of 8.575 on vault, 8.575 on bars, 8.525 on beam, 8.650 on floor and 34.000 in the all-around.   She is a biology major and a 1998 graduate of Pilgrim High School.   Junior Nicole Simone (Johnston, RI) has another year of eligibility remaining, but is planning to forgo her senior season due to internship requirements. Simone averaged scores of 8.286 on beam and 8.703 on floor. Her season-high marks were as follows: 8.875 on beam at the Ithaca Invitational and 9.400 on floor vs. Springfield.   As a sophomore in 2001-02, she averaged scores of 8.155 on vault, 6.433 on bars, 8.033 on beam, 8.456 on floor and 31.710 in the all-around on the season. Her season-high marks were as follows: 8.300 on vault, 7.150 on bars, 8.600 on beam and 33.100 in the all-around vs. MIT/Bridgeport; 9.250 on floor vs. Springfield/Southern Connecticut.   As a freshman in 2000-01, Simone averaged a score of 7.250 on beam. Her season-high marks were as follows: 7.250 on beam at the Springfield meet.   She is a psychology major and a 1999 graduate of Johnston High School.   Junior Jessica Frey (Cranston, RI) was a reserve on the team.   Junior Nikki Longo (Raynham, MA) averaged scores of 8.986 on vault, 8.587 on bars, 8.917 on beam, 8.175 on floor and 34.438 in the all-around. Her season-high marks were as follows: 9.225 on vault and 9.400 on beam vs. Springfield; 8.675 on bars vs. Cortland; 8.450 on floor and 34.900 in the all-around vs. MIT.   Junior Nicki Turner (Salem, NH) averaged a score of 8.817 on beam. She recorded a season-high mark of 8.900 on that event vs. Cortland.   Sophomore Caren Normandin (Fall River, MA) qualified for the NCGA Championships as an all-around specialist. It was Normandin’s second trip to the National Championships. She placed 24th on vault with a score of 8.975, 54th on bars with a score of 7.225, 16th on beam with a score of 9.100, 40th on floor with a score of 9.325 and 15th in the all-around with a score of 34.625. She averaged scores of 9.138 on vault (team-high), 8.578 on bars, 9.210 on beam (team-high), 9.095 on floor and 36.020 in the all-around. Her season-high marks were as follows: 9.325 on vault vs. Southern Connecticut; 9.325 on bars, 9.475 on beam and 36.850 in the all-around at the ECAC Championships; 9.400 on floor vs. MIT. Her 9.475 score on beam at the ECACs tied the highest mark in RIC history on that event.   Sophomore Ashley O’Blenis (Bristol, RI) qualified for the NCGA Championships as a floor specialist. It was O’Blenis’ first trip to the National Championships and she placed 24th on floor with a score of 9.525. She averaged scores of 9.017 on vault, 8.906 on bars, 8.764 on beam, 9.440 on floor (team-high) and 36.117 in the all-around (team-high). Her season-high marks are as follows: 9.175 on vault, 9.425 on beam and 36.925 in the all-around vs. Cortland; 9.100 on bars at the Ithaca Invitational; 9.700 on floor vs. Wilson.   Freshman Rachelle Cyr (Bristol, RI) was a reserve on the team.   Freshman Staci Freedman (Raynham, MA) averaged scores of 8.919 on vault, 8.036 on bars, 9.039 on beam, 9.189 on floor and 35.183 in the all-around. Her season-high marks are as follows: 9.125 on vault, 8.675 on bars, 9.350 on beam, 9.375 on floor and 36.525 in the all-around vs. Springfield.   Freshman Katelyn Guignard (Newton, NJ) was a reserve on the team.   Freshman Kevin Hurley (Westerly, RI) averaged a score of 8.700 on vault. She received a season-high mark of 8.700 on vault vs. Springfield.   Freshman Christy Pforr (Pembroke, MA) averaged scores of 8.617 on vault, 7.133 on bars and 8.588 on floor. Her season-high marks are as follows: 8.650 on vault and 7.400 on bars at the ECAC Championships; 8.900 on floor vs. Springfield.   Freshmen Heather Turano (Westerly, RI) missed the team’s final four meets after injuring her elbow in practice. Turano averaged scores of 8.585 on vault and 6.900 on bars. Her season-high marks are as follows: 9.025 on vault and 7.850 on bars vs. Southern Connecticut.

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