After winning the past two Western Athletic Conference championships, the 2008 women’s gymnastics team made its debut in a meet against Cal State Fullerton on Jan. 13. The team lost by .525 with Fullerton earning 189.525 points and the Hornets finishing with 189.000.

Despite the fact that the Hornets took home victories in three events, the Titans of Cal State Fullerton held on to win the meet.

The loss was unusual for the Hornets as they have won three of their previous four home openers prior to this season.

Although some athletes said season openers are sometimes plagued by nerves, coach Kim Hughes felt differently.

“We have had a number of meets at home so they should be comfortable,” Hughes said. “This is their home gym so this is where they shouldn’t be nervous and worried…I don’t want to use that as an excuse.”

Freshman Alycia Chan made her collegiate debut as a Hornet with a win on the vault. Her score of 9.700 led her to win the event. The win also inspired Chan to perform better in the rest of the events as well.

“I want to do vault again like I did,” Chan said. “I also want to stick it on floor and beam.”

Hughes is also impressed with the way Chan has been performing in her first year as a collegiate athlete. She is competing in three events and doing exhibition in the fourth.

“So far Alycia has been a huge impact in three events,” Hughes said.

Coming off of two consecutive WAC championships, the Hornets are looking for another title.

“I think we can win WAC for the third year (in a row),” Nicole Giao said. “I think it’s definitely possible.”

Presently, the Hornets own a 1-2 record in the WAC after bouncing back from the loss at home with a win at Utah State last Friday, but fell to San Jose State on Friday 192.800-192.750.

Although the Hornets lost the home opener match, Giao said the team is putting the memory behind itself.

“Basically we are taking (the record) and trying to move forward,” Giao said. “We want to keep putting wins under our belts.”

Senior Melissa Genovese also has faith that the Hornets can defend its title.

“We go into every meet with the same attitude and we take it one step at a time,” she said. “We come in with positive and confident attitudes.”

Hughes believes the team has another shot at the title as long as the team performs with a consistent attitude.

“We’re looking to be more consistent and make less mistakes,” Hughes said. “We’re cleaning it up and hitting our routines better.”

In a preseason poll of the coaches, the Hornets were picked to tie for first at the end of the season.

Genovese did not think much of the coaches’ poll but does believe the Hornets are working hard, considering their main goal is to win the conference title once again.

“I don’t really know why we’re picked to tie,” Genovese said. “We did really good and maybe they want another team to win but we train the same and we work really hard. (Winning conference) is our main goal and in practice we work on our skills.”

Hughes looks at the ranking as a chance to perform well because prior to this season, the Hornets were not ranked No. 1.

“For two years we have not been ranked No. 1,” Hughes said. “The No. 1 team actually beat us in a head to head competition. We have the respect of other coaches. Maybe they thought that since we lost seniors we aren’t the same team.”

The skill level for the Hornets increased with the recruitment of six new freshmen and players returning from injury.

“They are a great group and a fun group and they added to our depth,” Giao said.

Because injuries are often a factor in women’s gymnastics, the addition of the freshmen will help balance out the injured veterans with healthy newcomers.

“They are a really great group,” Genovese said. “Injuries are always a factor so it’s good to have them. We have a lot more depth this year and that always helps.”

Even injured veteran athletes are working to become healthy for future meets. Giao usually competes in three events but has been limited to one due to her injury.

“I’m coming off a neck injury so I basically didn’t work out at all,” she said. “I’m trying to get healthy and compete in all three events that I do.”

“Nicole had an injury in the beginning of the school year and she was just given clearance in December so she has only been working out since December,” Hughes said. “She has competed in vault and is trying to get ready for floor and beam.”

Despite injured players, the team is hoping to come back with higher scores in future meets. Injuries are a problem with Hughes but he has been relying on the freshmen to fill the space.

“Injury from a returner is always difficult but we have other freshmen who are doing well and people are training to become healthy again,” Hughes said.

Even with the difficulties, the team has a positive outlook and is planning to work hard on the journey to the WAC championship and eventually regionals.

“For the next few weeks we have to put together good scores,” Hughes said.

The next home meet for the Hornets will take place on Feb. 8 against Seattle Pacific. The meet takes place in the Hornets Nest at 7 p.m.

Alicia de la Garza can be reached at [email protected]