Seattle Pacific University Athletics

It’s difficult to distinguish the history of Falcon gymnastics from the biography of Laurel Anderson Tindall. The two have been intertwined since the program’s inception in 1974.

A star pupil of George Lewis and already a national champion for the University of Washington, Anderson followed Lewis to Brougham Pavilion after her sophomore year for the Huskies, and promptly positioned Seattle Pacific near the top of the college gymnastics scene.

Together with Debbie Halle (Jackson) and Jenny Foshee, she helped the Falcons finish fifth among all colleges (including Division I teams) in the first season. Tall for her trade, fundamentally solid and quite strong, Anderson was the epitome of power.

As a senior, she won the AIAW championship on vault and was an All-American on two other events and all-around. Immediately thereafter, she began giving back ten-fold to her sport and alma mater. Having guided SPU to three national championships, Tindall is now in her 30th year as head coach and also serves as director of the Falcon Gymnastics Center.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS (1974-75)

• National vault champion.

• Member of inaugural team that finished fifth in AIAW all-division national championships.

• Six-time All-American.