The Cyclone gymnasts will be making their seventh NCAA post-season appearance in Salt Lake City, Utah this weekend.

The women earned a No. 2 seed in the North Central Region by disposing of Oklahoma and Missouri, and falling just short of their nemesis Nebraska at the Big 12 Championship. The team total (197.050) was the third-highest in school history, which moves the Cyclones into eighth place nationally.

The team sports an 11-6 overall record, including the Big 12 Championship meet.

However, the regional will contain some strong competition. The No. 1 seeded Utah Utes are ranked fifth in the country. The third seed, West Virginia, is also ranked nationally, coming in at 17th place. Iowa State will also face Denver, Utah State and Air Force.

The top two teams from the regional meet will advance to the NCAA championships in Georgia, April 19-21.

Many of the ISU gymnasts said they have their sights set on first place this weekend. “We’re shooting for number one,” Sissy Huey said.

“We plan on making it to nationals,” said Dena Albacker. “If we go in there and do what we know how to do, we’ll come out on top.”

The confidence is a result of some consistent late-season scoring. In three out of the last four meets, the Cyclone gymnasts have scored above 197.00 as a team. Most of the gymnasts feel this meet will be no different.

“I think we can go 197 and higher,” Stephanie Sweitzer said. “I think we are very capable of doing it.”

Shelly Kringen, the Big 12 all-around champion, added that this meet should be no different from any of the meets during the regular season.

“You just have to go in knowing nothing is easy,” said the junior. “We just focus on what we have to do to get the score.”

“We can’t hold back at all,” added Huey. “Just treat it like it’s just another meet.”

Iowa State is no stranger to tough competition. During the regular season, Iowa State competed against several strong teams such as Nebraska, Florida and Minnesota. That could prove to be an advantage for the Cyclones.

“I think it has been good for us to be exposed to some really good teams,” Huey said.

Co-captain Lauren Goldberg added that things have gone well all season, and they could get even better in the near future.

“I think we’re at our prime right now,” she said. “We’re excited. Everyone’s up and motivated for [regionals].”

It could be the last meet for Jessy Smith and Goldberg, but they aren’t counting on it. “I haven’t even looked at it that way,” Goldberg said.

Adding to the competition, the crowd could be another factor at Utah. Attendance at the event is expected to approach 13,000. The average attendance for an Iowa State home meet during the 2001 season was under 1,000. Salt Lake City is home to both Utah and Utah State.

Several of the gymnasts experienced the larger atmosphere last season at regional and national competition.

“It was unbelievable. It was so loud,” Huey said. “But, I think we’ll be fine.”

The gymnasts have been preparing for the crowd noise at practice. “We’ve had the music blaring,” Huey said. “I think I’ve had a headache for like the last three days,” she said with a chuckle.

The regional meet begins at 6 p.m. Saturday.