No one can predict the future, but the Sac State gymnastics team is confident that with a little hard work it can repeat as the Big Sky Conference champion in 2001.

However, the question in the minds of Kim Hughes’ athletes is if anyone will notice.

“It’s going to be a fun year. It’s a fun sport but people don’t really know about it,” said Jolane Parr, a fifth-year senior.

Fellow senior Jami Scoville agreed with her teammate.

“We have a great team this year that will really support everyone. This is one of the best sports at our school and we had a good record (22-8) last year. It’s a shame more people don’t know we exist. People should come and watch,” Scoville said.

It could be a fun year for the Hornets, as Sac State will receive virtually the entire team that won its conference and 20-plus meets for the second consecutive year.

Sac State also finished second overall at last year’s National Invitation Tournament, held at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant.

Among the returnees are six juniors and three seniors.

“We’re not a young team like we were the last two years,” Hughes said. “The seniors are veterans and strong competitors. We consider each a co-captain because of their leadership both on the floor and with the team in the locker room.”

The Hornets will also welcome back two starting sophomores, Toni Petersen and Jenny Ball. Petersen was last year’s NIT floor co-champion and Ball gives the Hornets a three-event contribution.

Two new editions to the 2001 roster that are expected to increase Sac State’s competitive edge are freshmen Binta Coleman and Amy Langcamp.

Coleman is a standout athlete from Laguna Creek High School who placed eighth overall in last year’s high school regional championships. She is expected to have a major impact on the team in overall competition and drastically help the Hornets in vault.

Langcamp is currently rehabilitating her shoulder and Hughes estimates that she is still a month behind.

In keeping the talent from last year intact, and adding Coleman and Langcamp, Hughes seems to have the inside track on another Big Sky Conference title, but that is not the final goal for the team.

“We should be very strong in our conference again. My goal is to win our conference and also to qualify for the NCAA regional championships,” Hughes said.

The Hornets begin competition in Hornet Gym on January 20 versus Cal State Fullerton.