March 2, 2005

By Travis Tate
Illinois Sports Information

The women's gymnastics program's success as of the last few years can be strongly attributed to young talent, terrific coaching and a core group of seniors who have seemingly been through it all. All six seniors have been key contributors, leaders and friends since they arrived in Champaign. However, not all of them arrived at the same time. Jessica Cole decided on Oklahoma coming out of high school, but decided to transfer to Illinois after her freshman year.

"I feel like I was always supposed to be here," Cole said. "Oklahoma was great, don't get me wrong, but from the moment I stepped on campus at Illinois, I knew this is where I was supposed to be."

Sara Dumich, a native of Champaign, started at U of I; however, was not a member of the gymnastics team initially. After her freshman year, her love for gymnastics drove her to join the team her sophomore year as a walk-on. Meanwhile, Kara Kapernekas, Lauren Newcomb and Margaret Dann all were consistent contributors early in their careers and have come a long way to help build the program. Ashley Williams was an immediate impact performer, as she garnered Big Ten Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten honors.

"I would say my freshman year was a success since I got Freshman of the Year," Williams said. "It was also nice to improve each year after that, too."

That seems to be the theme of this year's senior class. Although each person has had different experiences since arriving, each girl has helped their classmates become successful student-athletes and progress through the years.

"I think we've all hung in and meshed as a team," Cole said. "This is a huge group. We're close like sisters and I can go to any of them about anything. We've been through it all: hard times, good times, laughs, tears."

The class, which seemed so big to some, took a little time for adjustment.

"We came in as a big class, we didn't really know each other yet," Dann said. "But now we're all very close."

As close as they have gotten, each senior recognizes how quickly time has passed since those early uneasy days as a freshman.

"I would tell all younger gymnasts, especially our underclassmen to try your best everyday, because the four years go by so fast," Dumich said. "It's really sad when it's the end, so definitely give it all you got!"

Every other senior also stressed how important it is for the younger gymnasts to appreciate the time as Division-I student-athletes.

"Just have fun," Newcomb said. "Because after these four years, gymnastics is most likely over for girls. Enjoy it while it lasts." Dann adds, "Take your time, because it goes by so much faster than you think it will."

What most student-athletes will remember more than early classes or tough practices are the good times, friendships and camaraderie of competing at such a high level.

"I think I've gained a lot of good friendships and good memories," said Dumich. "Being on the team has probably made me a better person, athlete and student."

Each senior can certainly remember a very noteworthy memory during their career: making it to regionals as a team, then watching Cara Pomeroy complete a perfect 10 on the uneven bars. Pomeroy went on to join Williams at nationals last year.

"It was so exciting after Big Ten's in the locker room," Newcomb said. "We knew we had done well and we were getting phone calls about how other teams had done. After that, we were pretty much a lock to make it. The locker room was just mass chaos, it was so exciting!"

After all, no one from this class had ever made it to regionals as a team (hadn't been done since '99) and not one gymnast had qualified for nationals since 1987. And with success comes higher expectations. This year, the team's main focus is to make it as a team to nationals. This would certainly be more than noteworthy if this group could lead the Illini to it's first ever appearance at the NCAA National Championships.

"We need to do well at Big Tens and regionals to put ourselves in a position to make it to nationals," Kapernekas said. "I think we all know we can qualify for nationals; I'm just going to do whatever I can to contribute."

After this year, the senior class will be missed, but you can be sure each athlete will find success in their future endeavors. Each of the seniors expressed how much they like living in the area and going to school at Illinois. Cole and Newcomb still have a year of school left; and nearly all of them said they would enjoy going to graduate school in Champaign-Urbana. And surely after the success this group has brought to the gymnastics program, the University and community would certainly enjoy it if they could stay as long as possible.