Madison, Wis. – January 15, 2019 – Following the first full week of competition within the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA), Amanda Malo (Minnetonka, Minn.) of Gustavus Adolphus and Kennedy Utz (New Lenox, Ill.) of Winona State were recognized as Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Gymnasts of the Week, announced on Tuesday.
Malo was named the WIAC All-Around Gymnast of the Week, while Utz was the WIAC Specialist of the Week.
Malo led the Golden Gusties as they opened the season at the Best of Minnesota, hosted by the University of Minnesota on Jan. 12. She placed second in the all-around competition and first among NCAA Division III competitors with a total of 36.600. She led the way for the Golden Gusties on floor with a 9.325, a 9.200 on vault, a team-high 9.225 on bars and a 8.850 on the balance beam. Malo’s performance helped the Gusties to the highest season-opening total in program history with a 182.175.
Competing at the Best of Minnesota at the University of Minnesota in the first meet of the season, Utz placed eighth overall on both the floor exercise and vault. She scored a 9.500 on floor exercise, which was second among NCAA Division III athletes at the meet and a 9.450 on vault which was third for Division III competitors. Winona State placed third among four teams at the meet with a score of 182.325.