After finishing fifth in the MAC in 2004, sixth-year NIU gymnastics coach Mark Sontag sees improvement on the horizon. The Huskies have ambitions of finishing first.

“We’re hungry and ready for whatever comes into our gym,” Sontag said.

The Huskies’ gym is where they begin the MAC season Sunday, but it is also where they hope to end it as they host this year’s MAC Championships.

The Huskies open conference competition at 2:05 p.m. Sunday at the Convocation Center against Eastern Michigan. NIU is 1-0 on the season with a win over Illinois-Chicago Jan. 9.

The team will enter MAC competition expecting to pose a challenge for the rest of the conference.

In order to dethrone defending champion Central Michigan, NIU has upped its level of competition. Sontag said the biggest key will be the performances of tougher routines, Sontag said.

The Huskies enter the conference season tabbed fifth in the MAC by conference coaches. However, this year’s team believes they can go in and be competitive if not win every meet, Sontag said.

Behind their tri-captains, senior Keri Saint and sophomores Amy Ristvedt and Jody Yednock, the Huskies return 13 letterwinners as well as four NCAA Regional qualifiers.

This year’s all-around competition is led by senior Kristina Campos and junior Ashlee Williams. Campos is NIU’s all-around record holder at 39.550 points, and Williams was named the MAC gymnast of the week on Jan. 11.

One of the Huskies’ best events will be the uneven bars where they are rated first in the MAC. NIU’s style can best be described as a high-flying daredevil event, Sontag said.

The vault will be led by sophomore Kelly Kramer, a 2004 NCAA Regional qualifier, who is joined by Campos and Williams and freshman Amanda Johnson.

The floor exercise is impacted by freshman Jennifer Rice, who brings in a new look through tumbling and choreography. The floor is rounded out by Campos, Williams and Johnson.

To improve the balance beam event, Sontag has his team practicing under high-pressure situations.