April 3, 2002

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Chicago, Ill. - Four times a University of Illinois at Chicago women's gymnastics team has advanced to a NCAA Regional.

Four times that Regional marked the end of a Flames' season.

Saturday will mark the fifth appearance for UIC at a NCAA Regional, as the Flames will compete in the South Central Region in Tempe, Arizona on Saturday night at 7:00 PM CST.

According to co-head coach Peter Jansson, this squad has the best opportunity to advance to the National Championships, unlike the previous four teams.

"This is really the first year that we truly feel we can compete with these teams," said Jansson, who is at the helm along with his wife, Mary Jansson. "We have the difficulty and finishes to compete at this level."

The teams who the Flames will be tangling with include No.1 UCLA, No.12 Arizona, No.17 Brugham Young, 18th-ranked Arizona State and Cal State Fullerton.

This edition of the women's gymnastics team has something special.

The 2002 Flames' credentials include being state and conference champs, as well as putting together the finest meet in the history of UIC gymnastics, scoring a 196.025 at the Midwest Independent Championships on March 23.

But those accomplishments all took place following March 2, a day that transformed the Flames.

That day marked the most disappointing team finish for UIC, as the Flames were defeated by Eastern Michigan and Southern Utah in Utah, and at that point changes needed to be made.

"We didn't need to change just one thing and person wasn't the difference," said Jansson. "We needed everyone to change their attitudes and I think we all realized that at that point."

After a series of meetings in the hotel in Utah, the differences were glued back together and the problems were downgraded. Jansson points to his captains as a big reason for the turnaround.

Senior Nadia Ori and sophomore Atlin Mitchell have provided the steady leadership that was available when the Flames needed it most.

"We've had a lot of different captains and a lot of good captains over the years, but as far as having an impact on the team, these two have separated themselves from the pack," Jansson said. "They have had the most impact of any captains we have had as far as leading by example and by speaking out."

Whatever was said in the hotel in Utah, followed by the practices that ensued soon after made a difference, as the Flames have strung together four magnificent competitions headed into Regionals.

Leading the way is a senior class that is immovable, a steady force for the Flames.

Sara Casica heads up the senior clan as a fifth-year athlete, competing as an all-arounder and excelling.

Amy August, Kim Sommer, Erica Varner, Ori and Jaclyn Messerges, along with Casica are the seniors that gel UIC together and have tutored freshmen Alyson Cacciatore, Jennifer O'Neil, Jamie Grabowski and Stacey Magiera to shine as underclassmen.

The attitudes have changed for the better and so have the scores.

The 2002 Flames look to score higher than ever and cement their legacy in UIC history in the desert on Saturday.

Be sure to check out the latest edition of meet notes to prep you for Saturday's tumbling action.