Full Results
Menomonie, Wis. – March 31, 2017 – The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater claimed the 2017 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) National Championship, posting a team score of 191.000 on Friday evening in the Johnson Field House on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
This marks the fourth time in program history that Whitewater was crowned the NCGA National Champion as a team, as the Warhawks had previously won titles in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Following the Warhawks was, Wisconsin-La Crosse, which took second with a 188.300, Brockport with a 186.800, Ursinus with a 186.750, Wisconsin-Stout with a 186.475, while Springfield College wrapped up the top six with a 184.775.
Whitewater was led by the impressive performance on Lisa O’Donnell, who took first overall in the all-around competition with a score of 38.225. O’Donnell was the meet’s top finisher on the uneven bars, posting a 9.725, while she also took 10th on the beam with a 9.600,12th on vault with a 9.375 and 14th on the floor exercise with a 9.525.
The top ten competitors in the all-around competition earned all-america honors, Earning all-america recognition on Friday night was O’Donnell, Jessica Bernardo from Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Marissa DeAngelo from Springfield College, Kaylee Jondahl from Wisconsin-Stout, Katie Fiorilli from Whitewater, Alex Kopp of Gustavus Adolphus, Eboni Jackson of Winona State, Samantha Wiekamp of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Alexandra Puryear of Ursinus and Lauren Kershener of Gustavus Adolphus.
Taking first overall on the vault was Fiorilli with a 9.550, while Kari Willett of Wisonsin-La Crosse notched a 9.525 to take second in the event. Stephanie Mager of Brockport took third with a 9.500, as she was followed by Mikala Bugge of Stout and Wiekamp with matching scores of 9.475.
On the uneven bars, last year’s national champion in the event, Mackenzie Smith of Whitewater took second with a 9.675 to follow O’Donnell, before Abby Ostrovsky and Amy Enright of La Crosse and McKenzie Foster of Whitewater tied for third with scores of 9.600. Briana Kerr of Springfield College and Meghan Cash of Brockport rounded out the top six with scores of 9.575.
Foster won the balance beam with a 9.775, as she was followed by Leah Spankowski and Willett of La Crosse and Courtney Pickett of Whitewater, who all tied for second with matching 9.725’s. Kelly Huseman of Stout and Amanda Palladino of Ursinus both tied for fifth with 9.700’s.
Lastly, in the floor exercise, Jondahl Katie Mierow of Whitewater and Brittany Vasile of Brockport shined with scores of 9.700 to tie for first overall, while Brockport’s Candis Kowalik and Puryear finished with scores of 9.675, tying for fourth. Bugge finished sixth with a 9.650.
The competition will resume at 4 p.m. on Saturday, as the individual championship will take place back in the Johnson Field House on the campus of Wisconsin-Stout.