The UW-Whitewater gymnastics team added entries to the program record book in multiple categories Saturday. The Warhawks honored the seniors with a huge 193.750-189.575 win over UW-Eau Claire in the final home meet of the season.
The UWW overall team total – 193.750 – is the second-highest team score recorded in program history. The Warhawks also tied the team vault record that they set earlier this season with a 48.550 on the apparatus. The floor saw the second-best team total ever recorded posted Saturday – 48.925. UW-Whitewater added the seventh-best team total on the bars – 48.400 – to cap a phenomenal evening in Russell Arena.
The Warhawks set the tone right off the bat with the eight (including exhibition) highest scores recorded on the apparatus. Carleigh Moore (Oregon, Wis./Oregon) led the way with a 9.75 followed by Elaine Copeland’s (Arlington, Texas/University Prep) 9.725. Brianna Balian (Peoria, Ariz./Sunrise Mountain) and Chloe Hammond (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny) each registered a score of 9.7 while Ava Pesch (Waterford, Wis./Waterford Union) and Alayna Fern (Gainesville, Fla./Gainesville) tallied matching 9.675s.
On the bars, it was Ariana Goodwin (Elgin, Ill./The Einstein Academy) with the top routine of the night. The freshman wrote her name in the program record book with a 9.8 – tied for the eighth-best in UWW history in the event. Kelsey Kollhoff (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg) was the runner-up with a 9.675. Copeland and Hayden Gough (Dallas, Texas/Dallas International School) shared third with scores of 9.65 and Paige Magel (Cary, Ill./Prairie Ridge) rounded out the scoring five with a 9.625.
Kristen Swiebocki (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) and Hammond paced UW-Whitewater on the balance beam with 9.7s to tie for second. Ashnaya Gupta (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) was fifth with a 9.6 followed by Kollhoff’s 9.575 and Magel’s 9.3.
Capping the meet on the always exciting floor exercise, the Warhawks combined for the best score since 2014 in the event. Moore and Kollhoff shared gold with incredible routines scoring 9.85. Zoe Jenks-Recker (Cottage Grove, Wis./Monona Grove) secured bronze with a 9.825 and Hammond was fourth with a 9.775. Copeland wrapped up the scoring five with a 9.625.
The Warhawks will head to La Crosse for the WIAC Championship/NCGA West Regional next Saturday. UWW, the top seed heading into the regional, will compete in the second session that is set to begin at 6 PM.
