Anson & Barnes Honored at Big 12

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Two Iowa State gymnasts were honored with Big 12 Conference accolades at the 2007 Big 12 Championship Saturday night at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo. Senior Janet Anson was named Co-Big 12 Gymnast of the Year and freshman Megan Barnes was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year by the league's coaches. Anson, who also received the same honor last season, is the first gymnast in the history of Big 12 gymnastics to win the award in consecutive years. Nebraska's Emily Parsons was also named Co-Gymnast of the Year. She won or tied for four individual titles at the 2007 Big 12 Championship.

“I was very surprised (to be named gymnast of the year)," Anson said. "I got it last year and I didn't know of anyone who had gotten it two times in a row. I was shocked because I thought (the award) was going to Emily (Parsons). She is an awesome gymnast. Being voted by the coaches is an honor.”

In the team competition, the 15th-ranked Iowa State gymnastics squad finished in fourth place, with a total of 193.975. Seventh-ranked Nebraska (196.475) earned its eighth conference crown, followed by Oklahoma (195.325) in second place and 18^th-ranked Missouri (194.450) in third.

ISU's Anson, a Kansas City, Mo., native, won a share of the Big 12 bars title, scoring a 9.90, a score which tied her career high. In the best Big 12 Championship of her career, she took second place in the all-around, scoring a 39.550. She also placed second on vault (9.90), third on beam (9.875) and third on floor (9.875).

“I am happy that I could put it all together today," Anson said. "This has been my best Big 12 Championship performance of my career and it's nice to know I had such a good meet for the last one.”

The Cyclones struggled from the beginning of the meet and had to count a fall on beam in the opening rotation. Freshman Katie Sweetin hit a strong routine, scoring a 9.800 to tie for eighth place. Anson scored the Cyclones' top score of 9.875, for a team total of 48.400, placing them in fourth after the first rotation.

ISU turned in a 48.800 on floor with top performances by Jasmine Thompson (9.80) and Katie Sweetin (9.80), who tied for eighth place. Anson turned in another stunning performance, nailing a 9.875 routine for a third-place finish.

The Cyclones moved to vault for the third rotation and captured their highest event score of the meet, a 48.875. Anson went 9.90 on a Yurchenko one-and-a-half to tie for second. Barnes, who was only able to compete on vault due to continuing back injuries, scored a 9.825. The newcomer of the year, who tied for eighth place at the championship, ranks among the top 10 in the conference and top 25 in the nation in the event.

Also during the third rotation, the Sooners had to count a fall on bars, scoring 48.525, and falling farther behind Nebraska. Missouri began closing in on OU, and after three rotations, Nebraska was at 146.850, Oklahoma 146.500, Missouri 146.450 and Iowa State at 146.075.

Anson, the uneven bars co-champion, tied her career high with a score of 9.90. Nebraska's Michelle Zabawa shared the title, also scoring a 9.90. Ceilia Maccani turned in one of the best performances of the night, scoring a 9.850 along with eight other gymnasts, to tie for fourth place. Senior Katie Lasher was another 9.850 performer, who had a solid showing as one of the four Cyclones to hit a routine in this event. ISU was not able to overcome the mistakes, having to count falls on bars.

“It is disappointing," said Iowa State head Coach Jay Ronayne. "But if you are just mad, you won't be able to keep going. I think that the sheer ?pride-crushing' will be enough. We are going to make a few alterations, but we won't have to do much. I think a lot of it will take care of itself."

Iowa State will begin its postseason competition on Saturday, April 15. On Monday, April 2, the team will learn where they travel for the NCAA Regional. A total of 36 teams will qualify for six different NCAA Regionals at Alabama, Arizona, Cal-Berkeley, Denver, Michigan and West Virginia.

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Players Mentioned

Janet Anson

Janet Anson

Megan Barnes

Megan Barnes

Katie Lasher

Katie Lasher

Ceilia Maccani

Ceilia Maccani

Ceilia Maccani

Katie Sweetin

Katie Sweetin

Jasmine Thompson

Jasmine Thompson

Jasmine Thompson

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