*Regular-season record 11-7

During the year the team made good progress as we all struggled to adjust to a new set of tough rules, as the NCAA adopted the new international rules without major modifications. Our senior tri-captains had the sad misfortune to sustain injuries that prevented them from competing during parts of the season. Nick Veneziale hurt a knee in early January and saw action in only our first and last regular-season meets. Aaron Murphy sustained another concussion that had him sit out a few meets, while Rob Chacon sprained a knee at Massachusetts and missed the next three meets. But all healed in time to see action by the end of the regular season. Sophomores Alex Weber and Richie Maguire (twice) were both named ECAC Athlete of the Week during the season.

Although we failed to catch defending champion Massachusetts at the ECACs, we did pull to within .85 of them, which showed significant improvement over the latter course of the season. Our team score at that tournament raised our NCAA average and earned us the right to compete at the NCAA qualifying event 12 days later as a team. Individually at the ECACs we had good success. Richie Maguire and Alex Weber placed one-two in the all-around, separated by only .10. Each of these men performed in four finals, earning medals on each: Richie placed 3rd on floor exercise, 6th on rings, 4th on vault and 2nd on parallel bars. Alex earned 4th on floor exercise, 6th on pommel horse, 3rd on parallel bars and 6th on horizontal bar. Senior Rob Chacon capped his career with a 2nd place finish on horizontal bar. Junior Brian Munn, sophs Theo Maes and Travis Pummer plus freshman Travis Kitchen also appeared in the event finals but missed medalling.

At the NCAA Qualifying meet held at Ohio State the day prior to the NCAA Championships, we finished 12th as a team, scoring 203.40, with Alex and Richie advancing to the first day of the championships, where Alex finished 14th all-around plus 10th on pommel horse, and Richie missed floor exercise finals by .05, finishing 12th.

In extra-collegiate competition last summer, at the Coca-Cola US Championships, graduate-student Kenny Sykes was our lone representative. Kenny finished his competitive career there and moved on to an MD/PhD program at the University of Iowa. Kenny successfully defended his PhD dissertation in Chemistry here at Temple when he returned to Philly for our alumni-homecoming meet. Mike Moran, Richie Maguire and Alex Weber also went to the qualifier for the US Championships but failed to move on. Also last summer, Rob and Nick were named "All-America Scholar-Athlete" by the College Gymnastics Association.

I continue to serve on the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame Committee, and continue as president of the US Elite Coaches Association for Men's Gymnastics. The latter position has me representing the USECAfMG on the USA Gymnastics Board of Directors.

The "Harry G. Nelson - Maximillian W. Younger Men's Gymnastics Endowment," the "Patterson-Coco Endowment for Gymnastics Excellence" and the "Jeff Paynter Fund" all continue to grow along with other fundraising efforts. This year was the last of four that we received a grant from the USOC via the ECAC to improve our program. It was through these fund-raising efforts that we were able to take trips outside of our region the past four years, and were able to upgrade our equipment. We also raised additional funds through the sale of T-shirts, through exhibitions and through our fall weekend clinic, where our athletes donate time to teach local youngsters the basics of our sport. Clothing manufacturer Gym-Kin remained as our uniform sponsor for the 15th straight year, which allowed us to once again be equipped with the finest in gymnastics competition apparel at no cost to our program.

At our year-end awards banquet, Alex was recognized as our Most Valuable Gymnast, Aaron as our Most Consistent Gymnast while freshman Dave Nowakowski was our Most Improved Gymnast. Nick earned our Academic Award. Nick also received the "Bill Braverman" award, while both Rob and Aaron received the "Wally Hayes" award.

Although we lose three seniors, the bulk of our scoring power will remain with us for the next two years, so I anticipate continued success competitively. Our team size of 23 was the largest I've ever had, which gave training opportunities to many. With a few talented recruits over the next few years, we should remain strong for some years to come. To show there is life after a collegiate gymnastics career, two of this year's team will join the cheerleaders next year - Rob (while completing his studies) and Adriel Loschak (who has retired from competitive gymnastics).

This summer, on August 8-11, we'll host the US Gymnastics Championships at the Liacouras Center, while the USA Gymnastics Coaches Congress takes place at the Marriott in center city. I have offered to host the ECAC Championships next March, and we have bid for the NCAA Championships in April, 2003. So Temple may well be the site of plenty of men's gymnastics action in the next few years.