Menomonie, Wis. – April 2, 2017 – Five student-athletes were crowned individual national champions at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) National Championships, hosted at the University of Wisconsin – Stout on Saturday evening in the Johnson Field House.
Student-athletes garnered First Team All-America recognition for finishing in the top six of their respective events. Places 7-12 were named Second-Team All-Americans at meet’s end.
After claiming the all-around national championship on Friday night, Whitewater’s Lisa O’Donnell continued her impressive weekend on Saturday as she took first overall on vault with a 9.725. Finishing second was Gustavus Adolphus’ Alex Kopp, who psted a 9.700, while Kaylee Jondahl of UW-Stout, Stephanie Mager of Brockport, Carolyn Nichols of Ithaca, Kari Willett of UW-La Crosse adn Katie Fiorilli of Whitewater all tied for third overall with a 9.650.
On the balance beam, Brockport’s Candis Kowalik and Willett posted matching scores of 9.600 to tie for first overall, while Eboni Jackson of Winona State followed with a 9.575 to finish third. Rounding out the top six was Ursinus’ Kaelin Ruoss, who notched a 9.525, while Dana LoCascio of UW-Oshkosh, McKenzie Foster and O’Donnell of Whitewater all tied for fifth with a 9.475.
Freshman Baylee Tkaczuk of UW-Oshkosh was the national champion on the uneven bars as the first year produced a 9.775 to take first, while O’Donnell took second with a 9.750. Abby Ostrovsky of UW-La Crosse took third with a 9.675, while Mackenzie Smith of Whitewater posted a 9.650 to take fourth, Samantha Ardy of Gustavus Adolphus finished fifth with a 9.625 and Lauren Wilson of UW-La Crosse took sixth with a 9.600.
Lastly in the floor exercise, Jackson took first with a 9.850, while Courtney Pickett of Whitewater took second with a 9.800. UW-La Crosse’s Elsa Spitzmueller finished third with a 9.750, while Erin Olson of UW-Eau Claire took fourth with a 9.725. Rounding out the top six was O’Donnell, who notched a 9.700, good for fifth, while Springfield College’s Nicole Silva finishes sixth overall with a 9.675.