Gymnasts Cheer Wrestlers at Big 12 Meet

03.07.2009 | Gymnastics

By: cyclones.com

Lincoln, Neb.?Less than two weeks after the Iowa State wrestling and gymnastics squads teamed up for the success that was Beauty and the Beast, the two teams were in the same building again Saturday night. The boisterous Cyclone gymnasts made themselves heard as they helped cheer on the ISU grapplers the evening before their Sunday meet at Nebraska.

The entire 12-member traveling Iowa State gymnastics team was in attendance. They were: Jasmine Thompson, Jody McKellar, Jacquelyn Holmes, Ceilia Maccani, Michelle Browning, Shea Anderson, Megan Barnes, Katie Sweetin, Ashley Kent, Jennifer Salfen, Anna Robey and Nikki Dilbert.

“I am a big wrestling fan and it was a great surprise when the coaches told us were coming to Big 12s,” freshman Shea Anderson said. “The exciting atmosphere really pumps us up for our meet tomorrow.”

The ISU coaching staff of head coach Jay Ronayne, assistant coach Jay Santos, assistant coach TeShawne Jackson and director of gymnastics operations Mary Ronayne was also in the crowd.

“It's great to cheer on the wrestlers because our two teams are so close,” said senior Jennifer Salfen. “We were lucky be here at the same time so we could cheer them on to their third-consecutive Big 12 title.”

Iowa State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson was full of praise for Cyclone fans who jammed into the NU Coliseum.

“I could hear them over the Nebraska fans,” Sanderson said. “That is really saying something when consider how loud it was.”