Although the ISU women’s gymnastics team dropped a close meet to 14th ranked Minnesota last weekend, after talking to ISU head coach K.J. Kindler, you couldn’t tell they had stumbled. The squad remains upbeat, and with good reason. The Cyclones jumped two spots to eighth in the latest national rankings — the highest for the team this season. The ranking also matches last season’s Big 12 Championship club for the highest team ranking in ISU history.The Gophers outscored the Cyclones, but Iowa State’s team score of 196.150 was right on track with where they have been all season. This point, Kindler said, is another reason for the gymnasts to keep their heads up. “We did have a good overall performance,” she said. “We’re really happy with where we’re at.”There are four meets remaining in the regular season for the Cyclone gymnasts, all of which will be true tests. The rest of the season starts this Friday when Iowa State travels to Gainsville to take on the Florida Gators. Kindler and her squad view the meet as an opportunity to earn respect from judges in other parts of the country. “The Florida meet is a big meet,” Kindler said. “We don’t get down to the SEC that often. We take that opportunity to show the country where we’re at.”Florida, ranked tenth in the country, will be a tall order for Iowa State. The Cyclones, who have never won in Gainsville, seem to get the Gators’ best effort whenever the two teams meet. “Florida’s a tough team to beat,” ISU junior Shelly Kringen said. “It always seems like they have their best competition against us.”Friday’s meet will begin with the Cyclones on the balance beam — an event that has proven to be a make-or-break event for Iowa State all season. Kindler noted that the first rotation is the key. “We’ll either be on fire or we’ll have to pick up the pieces,” she said. Iowa State’s beam team was fairly solid at Minnesota, with ISU gymnasts Chee Chee Calina and Courtney Sarrett tying for first place and Jessy Smith and Sissy Huey right behind in a tie for third. However, after three strong performances, two Cyclones slipped. Kindler said both falls came on the most difficult part of the routine and were not mental errors. The coach said he has confidence that her beam team will step it up this weekend. After facing the Gators, Iowa State has eight days to prepare for meets on consecutive nights against Missouri and Nebraska. The Cyclones will take on Missouri at Hilton Coliseum, but will have to travel to Lincoln to face the sixth-rated Huskers. “That will be the toughest point of the season,” said Kindler, referring to the back-to-back meets. “If they can handle that, they can handle anything.” To finish up the regular season, the improving Iowa Hawkeyes will come to Ames.Kindler feels that even with the tough schedule ahead, the future is bright for her team. Sarrett, one of Iowa State’s all-arounder’s, is gradually working back into the rotation after a back injury. She will return to the floor exercise this week, and will be back on vault later in the season. Huey is ranked third nationally on the uneven bars while Kringen is ranked third as well on the floor exercise. These consistent performances will help the Cyclones compete against anyone in the country.