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Gymnastics program prepares for life after Sandmire
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After leading the Boise State gymnastics team to nineteen consecutive NCAA regional qualifications, BSU Head Coach Yvonne “Sam” Sandmire is calling it quits. The “electric” gymnastics coach led BSU to a top 25 finish nationally eight times. In 1997 the Broncos finished as high as No. 14 in the country.
Sandmire said she made the decision five years ago that 2007 would be her final season with Boise State. She said her decision came in large part because of her desire to spend more time with her family. Sandmire said the long-term retirement plan has given her time to set the program up where she wants it to be when she leaves.
“Everything I’ve done has been with that in mind,” Sandmire said. “I just see them in such good hands. It’s going to be great.”
As the 2007 season gets underway, Sandmire is focusing on bringing home her 20th West Regional appearance and the 21st consecutive qualification by the school. The road to 21 won’t be an easy one, according to Sandmire. The Broncos are working with a squad that consists of nine freshmen and seven sophomores. The group of underclassmen totals 76 percent of the BSU roster this season.
In addition to the young core Sandmire is developing, she is also dealing with some crucial injuries that will require some of the freshmen to produce immediately. One of the key losses to the season is senior Lindsay Ward, who will red shirt the 2007 season due to injury. Ward finished 2006 with a 17th place finish at the West Regional Championships on bars. She also tied for fourth in the floor routine at the Western Athletic Conference Championships last year.
Senior Kristin Aldrich is the only upperclassman Sandmire returns who placed at last year’s WAC Championships. Aldrich, of Vancouver, B.C., tied for second on beam in 2006 and in 2005 tied with Ward for first on beam at the conference championships.
“It’s given a lot of freshmen the chance to step up and get an opportunity they wouldn’t have had before,” Sandmire said.
“We’re going to be good. I can’t say exactly when, because we do have a lot of work to do with the new freshmen. But they’re talented, they’re motivated and they’re enthusiastic. It’s going to be a really good year.”
One of the incoming freshmen that Sandmire expects to fill some of the injury void is DeAvera Todd of Atlanta, Ga. Todd is the only Bronco who will start the ’07 season in the All-Around.
To compete in the All-Around requires participating in all four events at a meet: vault, bars, floor and beam.
“I’m just hoping to bring the best to the team, bring a positive influence to everybody,” Todd said. “It’s all for the team.”
DeAvera said she is looking forward to contributing immediately for the Broncos. She said aside from gymnastics she is also enjoying life in Boise. Although the decision to move cross-country was a difficult one, according to DeAvera there was never any doubt about coming to compete for Coach Sandmire.
DeAvera did say she wasn’t originally aware Coach Sandmire planned on retiring after this season, which provided a bit of a shock when the news first hit. Even though Sandmire had planned her retirement for the past four years, Todd said it took time to learn about the transition that lay ahead.
Fortunately for the gymnastics program Todd said she has no remorse about choosing Boise State, even if it means three years in the program without Coach Sandmire. This year Sandmire has brought in new assistant coaches, Neil
and Patty Jo Resnick, to help set the program up for success after her departure.
The Resnicks owned and operated a highly reputable gymnastics academy in Sparks, Nev., called Flips USA Gymnastics. Through Flips USA Neil helped produce 27 NCAA scholarship recipients. The Resnicks also garnered more than 20 consecutive Nevada State Open Division championship titles while running the academy.
There will be no decision on Sandmire’s successor until after the conclusion of the season. Whoever assumes the reigns of the program next will certainly have big shoes to fill.
Fortunately for them, Shaniece Craft will be around for two more years to help ease into the transition.
Craft, a sophomore from Littleton, Colo., captured the individual vault title at the WAC Championships as a freshman. Craft competed in all four events for the Broncos in 2006. The Pre-Med. major has also shown she can get it done in the classroom, earning honors on the Coaches’ Association All-Academic team as a freshman.
“The WAC thing, I want to win again, but I’d love to have the whole team win WAC,” Craft said. “Hopefully (we) go further in the Regionals and Nationals as well. (Last season) I expected to do my best, but the fact that I had great coaches really helped me get that WAC title.”
Fellow sophomore Taylor Jacob also returns a load of experience from her freshman campaign in 2006. Jacob finished 18th on the floor routine and 21st on beam at the West Regionals in ’06. She was second on bars and tied for second on beam at the WAC Championships last year as well. Jacob was also a member of the Coaches’ Association All-Academic team as a freshman.
The women opened their season on the road against Cal-State Fullerton. The Broncos actually hosted CSF in a meet in Reno, Nev., Friday. BSU was defeated 187.45 to 187.25 in a close opening competition.
The Broncos return home for their first home meet of the year against Brigham Young Jan. 19. Boise State only hosts five home meets this season including the Beauty and the Beast Competition with the wrestling program Feb. 9
Jake Garcin
