Air Force Women's Gymnastics Season Preview

Jan. 5, 2007

Although the Air Force women's gymnastics team lost just one gymnast to graduation, there will definitely be a new look to the squad that takes the floor this season.

The Falcons, who add five standout freshmen to the roster, will also welcome first-year head coach Doug Day and first-year assistant coach Capt. Nelle Barriteau to the bench. Remaining with the program is Holly Tedeschi, who brings stability to the coaching staff, having spent seven seasons with the squad.

Behind-the-scenes, the Falcons also welcome the return of Lisa Smith as the squad's athletic trainer and the arrival of Dr. Martiqua Post as the team's officer representative.

While there was just one senior on the roster last season, this year's lineup boasts four seniors, including two all-conference gymnasts. Team captain Sashonna Iwaniec (Ligonier, Pa.) is a five-time all-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation selection, while classmate Christine Powers (Hurst, Texas) picked up first- and second-team honors last season.

In addition, Iwaniec has USA Gymnastics All-America honors on her resume, as well as an appearance at the NCAA Regional meet as a sophomore. Powers has been a force for the Falcons on the balance beam, registering the team's top mark last season on that apparatus.

The Falcons also return senior Charlotte Freedman (Albuquerque, N.M.) and classmate Ronda Helart (Plano, Texas) to the lineup. Freedman competed in every meet for the Falcons, including seven as an all-around competitor, and recorded career-best marks in every event. And although Helart has not seen any competitive action, she has been an important member of the team's practices throughout her career.

In addition to the four senior gymnasts, the Falcons also welcome back fourth-year cadet manager Erica Pong (San Mateo, Calif.).

The junior class may be the smallest with just three members, but they bring numerous accolades to the Falcons' program. Academic all-conference member Katie Donnell (Santa Fe, N.M.), is the backbone of the team's third-year gymnasts; having not missed a meet to date.

Classmates Kelly Lewis (Plano, Texas) and Jill Ward (Centreville, Va.) also return to the roster for Air Force. Although she did not see any action last season, Lewis competed in every meet as a freshman and qualified for the 2005 NCAA regional meet on the vault. Despite being hampered by injury throughout her career, Ward was a strong competitor when healthy.

There are four gymnasts that compromise the Falcons' sophomore class. Mary Barrett (Copperas Cove, Texas) and Joana Everett (Memphis, Tenn.) both saw action during their initial season on the squad. Barrett took part in every meet, including six meets as an all-around competitor, while improving her scores throughout the season. Everett was a common sight in the vault rotation, while also participating sporadically on the balance beam and floor exercise.

Classmates Kali Green (Seattle, Wash.) and Abigail Rogers (Pittsburgh, Pa.) join the lineup after not competing as freshmen. Green served as the program's manager last season, with Rogers was a member of the practice squad.

With five members, the Class of 2010 is the Falcons' largest. However, the squad's first-year gymnasts bring impressive credentials to the gym, including three state champions and one regional champion, as well as numerous qualifications to the regional and national meets.

Freshman Aftan Boudreaux (New Orleans, La.) was a state champion in 2005, while classmate Stephanie Frick (Phoenix, Ariz.) won the vault title and Kayla Kincade (Lakewood, Colo.) won the balance beam title at their respective state championships.

In addition, fellow freshman Emily Darone (Middletown, Del.) is just three years removed from the Level-9 regional title and classmate Michelle Denise (Kennewick, Wash.) was a two-time national qualifier.

The Falcons embark on another ambitious schedule that takes them away from the friendly confines of the Cadet West Gym for much of the season. Air Force opens the campaign on Jan. 13, when it heads up I-25 for a meet at local rival Denver. The Falcons then travel to Iwaniec and Rogers' home state of Pennsylvania on Jan. 27 for a tri-meet with Pittsburgh and New Hampshire.

Air Force opens the home portion of the schedule with a pair of weekend contests. The Falcons host MPSF foe Seattle-Pacific on Feb. 2, before wrapping up the weekend hosting another conference foe, UC-Davis, on Feb. 4.

Four straight road trips are up next for Air Force, taking the Falcons back-and-fourth across the country. The stretch begins on Feb. 10 in Columbus, Ohio, for a dual with Ohio State. The Falcons travel to Davis, Cal., for a rematch with UC-Davis on Feb. 16, before closing out the hectic month in Kalamazoo, Mich., for a dual meet with Western Michigan on Feb. 25.

The Falcons open the final month of competition with a return trip to California. Air Force will take part in a tri-meet in Berkeley against California and Penn on March 9, before heading back to Colorado for a dual with California at the Academy on March 18.

The 2007 regular season concludes for the Falcons just the way it began - in a dual meet with Denver. The two interstate rivals will converge on the Academy on March 26 for the team's final dual meet of the season. Just four days later, the Falcons travel to Seattle, Wash., for the annual Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships. The conference meet is scheduled to be held March 30 at Seattle-Pacific's Brougham Pavilion.

From the coaching staff to the competitive rotation, there is definitely a new look to the 2007 Air Force squad...and a new attitude as well. With strong senior leadership, experienced returners and an enthusiastic group of newcomers, the sky is the limit for this team.

Players Mentioned

Mary Barrett

Aftan Boudreaux

Emily Darone

Michelle Denise

Katie Donnell

Joana Everett

Charlotte Freedman

Stephanie Frick

Kali Green

Sashonna Iwaniec

Kayla Kincade

Kelly Lewis

Christine Powers

Abigail Rogers

Jill Ward

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