DES MOINES — The success of a team is credited to a good leader. K.J. Kindler is no exception.

In her fourth year as head coach of the ISU women’s gymnastics team, Kindler received the 2004 NCAA Central Region Head Coach of the Year award at Saturday’s Big 12 championship meet. This is her second consecutive year earning the award.

“I take no credit for coach of the year,” Kindler said. “My team is a great team. They’ve been a great team all year, and they just make me look good.”

Iowa State earned a national ranking of 16th prior to this season’s competition, its highest preseason ranking ever. The Cyclones finished the season 9-1-1 overall and 3-0-1 in the Big 12, with their only loss to Georgia and the lone tie with Nebraska. Iowa State broke the school record for overall team score twice, first against Minnesota with a 197.625, and second against Nebraska in the last meet of the regular season, scoring a 198.000.

Going into the Big 12 championship, the Cyclones were rated No. 7 nationally, No. 3 on floor, No. 6 on beam, No. 9 on vault and No. 12 on bars, according to the national GymInfo rankings. The Cyclones earned second place at the Big 12 championship.

Individual success has contributed to the team’s success. Freshman Janet Anson scored a perfect 10 on vault at the Nebraska meet, making her the first Cyclone freshman to earn a perfect 10 and the third ISU gymnast to record a perfect score. Sophomore Erin Dethloff claimed the highest-ever all-around score by a Cyclone gymnast earning a 39.75.

As a coach, Kindler focuses on the vault and floor exercises. She also choreographs both floor and beam routines for Iowa State.

Sophomore Erin Dethloff said the Cyclones have a strong program.

“The [gymnastics] program has grown stronger, and we’re hoping to continue to keep building,” she said.

After the disappointing second-place showing Saturday, Kindler and the Cyclones are looking forward to more postseason competition.

“We’re motivated for regionals, and we’re ready to go to nationals,” Kindler said. “We’ve prepared well.”

The following correction was printed on March 23, 2004:

Due to a reporting error, the March 22 article “ISU gymnastics earns regional coach of year” said ISU women’s gymnastics coach K.J. Kindler won the 2004 NCAA Central Region Head Coach of the Year award. Kindler actually received the Big 12 Coach of the Year award Saturday. She won the NCAA award last year. The Daily regrets the error.