Nicki Pedicini has spent a lifetime learning gymnastic techniques, but at NIU, the freshman standout is still learning the ropes.

By the looks of Pedicini’s success this season, it appears she is catching on rather quickly. Pedicini was named the all-around winner at the Mississippi Valley Gymnastic Classic (Jan. 19) after coming within .10 of the school record with her overall total of 37.75. She also matched an NIU hallmark on the balance beam with a 9.70.

Pedicini repeated the all-around honors last Saturday in a triangular against the University of Iowa and University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Her 37.40 in the all-around competition was good enough to tie for the number one spot while once again claiming first on the balance beam.

For Pedicini, it is easy to forget she is only a freshman. “It’s not difficult when we’re competing,” Pedicini said. “At first I was a little intimidated because I was the oldest in the gym at home and was looked to as a leader.

“Now I’m the one looking up to the other girls,” Pedicini added. “But once we’re competing we become equals. It doesn’t matter how old or how much experience anyone has.”

Experience is what made Pedicini the outstanding gymnast she is today, as head coach Bobbie Cesarek sees it. Before coming to NIU, Pedicini trained under Frank and Lori DeFrancesco at the renowned Arena Gymnastic Club in Stanford, Conn.

“Her (Pedicini) assets are her trememdous work ethics in the gym and her precision training she learned from working at the Arena,” Cesarek said. “Nicki came to us with all her talent. I give Frank and Lori (DeFrancesco) a lot of credit for that.”

In 1989 Pedicini was the Connecticut state and regional champion and was third in the country on beam in the Jr. Olympics. That same year she was seventh in the country at the United States Gymnastics Federation Jr. Olympic competition.

“I sort of took a year off before coming here to NIU,” Pedicini said. “So I just want to stay healthy and help the team continue to do well. I don’t know much about last year’s team but I do know this year’s team can go to regionals if we keep doing what we have been.”