ASU gymnastics coach John Spini isn't shy about his revamped team's potential in 2006.
"My expectations are a top three finish," he said. "I look at the talent that I've seen in the country, I look at what I've seen on TV, I look what I saw at nationals last year, and I'm taking my 26 years of experience -- that's where I come up with that number."
Spini has seven newcomers at his service. But, as has been the case since she arrived in Tempe three years ago, the Sun Devils' rock will be senior Ashley Kelly. In the past, where Kelly has gone, the Sun Devils have gone.
In 2004, Kelly enjoyed her finest season in the maroon and gold, winning a national championship on the balance beam, and ASU reached nationals as a team. Last season, she battled through a broken bone in her ankle the second half of the season before succumbing to the injury with a fall on the beam at the South Central Regional. The Sun Devils finished a seemingly underachieving fifth at that meet and didn't qualify for NCAAs.
"I couldn't go my hardest, and I don't feel I contributed to the team as much as I could [last season]," Kelly said. "I couldn't train the numbers I wanted to in the gym, and I couldn't get the confidence in the gym to do it in competition."
Spini said he asked too much of Kelly during her injury.
"It got to the point we could tell she was favoring the ankle in regionals," he said. "She was overused because we didn't have anybody to put in instead."
Unlike a year ago, depth will be a common theme for the Sun Devils this season, and Kelly, who had ankle surgery in the offseason, will not have to do it alone. The team entered 2005 with an undersized roster to begin with, then competed the entire year with only eight healthy athletes after freshman Karissa Vossler broke a bone in her knee shortly before the season began.
Spini brought in reinforcements during the offseason, as seven new freshmen tie his largest signing class ever. ASU only lost two competitors from a year ago, including graduated Kari Muth and walk-on Donna Chance, and return a healthy Vossler. Still, freshmen make up exactly half the roster.
"They just come in and light the fire," Kelly said. "As seniors, you're kind of older and tired, and these freshmen come in and just fire you up and keep you going."
The two gems of the signing class are Nicole Harris and Tia Orlando. Both were invited by legendary USA gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi to try out for the 2004 Athens Olympic team. Harris, however, broke her ankle a week before trials. Orlando competed during the first day of the two-day tryouts but broke a bone in her foot the second day.
Both freshmen are expected to compete in the all-around for the Sun Devils.
Harris said she has no reservations her fellow newcomers will be ready for the collegiate level.
"The adjustment is not that big of an issue," she said. "For me, knowing there are six other freshmen going through the same thing, it puts all other problems in the back of your head."
Junior April Boone is also expected to compete in the all-around after coming of age last season by reaching nationals as an individual on the floor exercise. She hopes to continue her ascent along with the new-look team.
"I enjoyed [nationals], but it wasn't as fun as I'd hoped because I didn't have my team there backing me up," Boone said. "This year I'm really confident in our team. If we do have trouble I know anyone can cover anyone's back."
Senior Lauren Powell, a co-captain along with Kelly, will be counted on in bars, beam and vault but likely will stay off the floor to preserve a tender shoulder that has plagued her for two years. Rounding out the regular competitors is junior Cassandra Jusino, who regularly performed the all-around her first two seasons but likely will compete in two or three events this year.
"This is the most talented team I've ever been on," Kelly said. "If we do what we're capable of, we're going to do amazing things."
Reach the reporter at christopher.drexel@asu.edu.
