Juniors Sissy Huey and Stephanie Sweitzer posted some respectable scores in the first session of the NCAA Gymnastics Championship at Athens, Ga. last Thursday.

However, neither gymnast was able to advance to the individual championship.

Sweitzer had advanced to the tournament after being honored as the North Central Region balance beam champion April 7 in Utah. Sweitzer rotated with the University of Florida, a team that Iowa State had competed against in the regular season. Huey made it to national competition as an individual all-arounder.

After a shaky warm-up session, Sweitzer was able to post a 9.625 on the balance beam, the only event she competed in. Huey, who rotated with Oregon State University, scored a 9.675 on the vault and a 9.350 on the balance beam. She was able to better those scores on the events she has excelled at all season.

Huey, who was the Big 12 Champion in the floor exercise, posted a 9.825 on both the uneven bars and floor. She just missed advancing to the finals on the bars. Her overall total was a 38.675.

ISU head coach K.J. Kindler noted that without their teammates, it was all on the shoulders of Huey and Sweitzer.

“It’s so much more difficult to go on your own,” Kindler said. “The motivation factor is completely personal/individual. That was probably the biggest challenge for them.”

Despite some wobbly beam routines, Kindler was very pleased. “I’m really proud of them,” she said. “It was exciting having them out there representing Iowa State.”

Huey and Sweitzer will both be back in 2002 for the Cyclone gymnastics team. Also returning will be Shelly Kringen, this season’s North Central Region Co-Gymnast of the Year.

Other returning Cyclones that saw significant action this season are Dena Albacker, Kendra Ciancio, Karen Kuplicki, Courtney Sarrett and Chee Chee Calina.