Road trips, hanging out on the beach, doing absolutely nothing -- these are a few things that the average student does over Spring break. But the Falcon gymnasts are anything but average students.

While their classmates were leaving to spend their breaks in California, Hawaii, Italy and other exciting locations, the SPU gymnasts (SPUGs) were heading back to the gym preparing for their two final meets of the season.

Over the break, the Falcons (4-15) experienced both a comeback and a few honors.

For one, Jaynie Reynolds was back in action. Reynolds, a junior who had sprained both her ankles back in February at a home meet against the University of Oregon, returned to the line-up on March 11 in the meet against Boise State.

"It's been tough," said Reynolds concerning her return to the line-up after the injury. She has competed on bars in the last three meets. As nationals draw near, Reynolds says that she is also beginning to practice the vault, hoping that she may be able to compete on the apparatus in nationals, which take place April 14 to 16.

"We are really going to push hard this week to get her [Reynolds] back into the vault," said gymnastics Head Coach Laurel Tindall.

The naming of Tindall as Mountain Pacific Sports Federation co-Coach-of-the-Year was an added excitement for the SPUGs this spring break. According to the Falcon athletic website, this is the first time Tindall has been honored as Conference Coach of the year, although she has received National Coach-of-the-Year in past seasons.

"Laurel is very deserving of it -- she is an amazing coach," Reynolds said. Christie Chinaka, a freshman on the team, agreed with Reynolds, saying that it was "rewarding to see her get honored in that way."

Sophomore Debra Huss earned the opportunity to compete in this weekend's Division I regional championships as an all-around competitior. She was the only SPU gymnast to receive this honor. According to Tindall, only five gymnasts from the region are chosen to compete in the Division I all-around competition.

Oh yeah ... and they had a meet or two also.

The Falcons hosted the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) on March 19, their last home meet of the season. Prior to the start of the meet, the Falcons' three seniors -- Corrie McDaniel, Kari Kelley and Elisabeth Kingsley -- were honored for their contribution to SPU gymnastics during their time at SPU.

The night ended in victory as the Falcons defeated UAA 193.650 to 191.175.

Seattle Pacific led a sweep on the uneven bars with Huss placing first followed by Reynolds in second and Chinaka in third. Chinaka had a career high score (9.700) on the bars as well. "It was really exciting since we don't usually get career highs that late in the season," she said.

Huss broke the school all-around record with a score of 39.225. Along with placing on the bars, Huss placed first on the beam and tied for second on the floor with teammate Sarah Sullivan.

"We hit well that night," Tindall said.

A few days later the Falcons headed down to California for the MPSF conference championships. The competition was held in the Pavilion at UC Davis. The Falcons placed fourth at the six-school meet. Reynolds said the team did not do as well as they had hoped to. But Chinaka added that the meet allowed the Falcons to see the areas that they need to improve upon before nationals.

Only two SPUGs reached the podium at the conference finals: McDaniel placed third on the floor exercise with a score of 9.725 and Huss placed third in the all-around scoring 38.650.

The Falcons are focusing on beginning to plan for nationals. In less than two weeks the team will leave for Ithaca, New York to face some of the best gymnasts in the nation.

"This is a critical week," Tindall said.

"We need to get through every day safely without any injuries, and that will give us our best chance at nationals."