La Crosse, Wis. — The UW-Whitewater gymnastics team finished third at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships/National Collegiate Gymnastics Association West Regional Saturday. Head Coach Jennifer Regan was named the WIAC Coach of the Year for the third time in her career.
UW-Whitewater posted a total of 192.850 – the eighth-highest team total in program history – to secure bronze in the nine-team field. The top two from each regional automatically qualify for the NCGA Championships with additional at-large bids determined on season average. The Warhawks consistency this season solidified their position as the top recipient for an at-large. The national championship is slated for March 22 in St. Peter, Minnesota. More information will be posted when available.
The Warhawks opened the meet on the balance beam. Chloe Hammond (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny) registered the top score on the apparatus, 9.675, to tie for eighth. Sofia Spadafora (Windsor, Ontario, Canada/Saint Thomas of Villanova) (9.575), Tegan Haberstock (Alberta, Canada/National Sport School) (9.575), Kelsey Kollhoff (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg) (9.425) and Kristen Swiebocki (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) (9.375) made up UWW’s scoring five in the event.
UWW added a top 20 mark in the program record book with a total of 48.550 on the floor exercise. Kollhoff paced the Warhawks with a 9.775 to share fourth and claim All-WIAC honors. Hammond registered a 9.750 followed by 9.7s from Carleigh Moore (Oregon, Wis./Oregon) and Ariana Goodwin (Elgin, Ill./The Einstein Academy). Elaine Copeland (Arlington, Texas/University Prep) and Zoe Jenks-Recker (Cottage Grove, Wis./Monona Grove) each scored 9.625 in the event.
Ava Pesch (Waterford, Wis./Waterford Union) led UW-Whitewater on the vault. She claimed a share of second with a score of 9.8 to secure All-WIAC honors and spark the team from the leadoff position. That mark is the fourth-highest vault score in program history. Copeland registered a 9.75 to tie for eighth while Hammond and Alayna Fern (Gainesville, Fla./Gainesville) added 9.7s in the event. Moore rounded out the scoring five on the apparatus with a 9.5. UW-Whitewater totaled 48.450 on the vault – ranked sixth in the program record book.
The Warhawks capped the meet on the uneven bars. UWW’s total of 48.225 is a top 20 mark in the Warhawk record book. Hayden Gough (Dallas, Texas/Dallas International School) and Kollhoff led the way with matching 9.7s to tie for fourth and claim All-WIAC recognition. Pesch and Paige Magel (Cary, Ill./Prairie Ridge) shared eighth with bars routines scoring 9.65. Goodwin rounded out the crew with a 9.525.
Prior to the second session of the regional, the WIAC announced major award winners and recognized athletes that had earned Athlete of the Week honors throughout the course of the season. Coach Regan was honored as the Coach of the Year, the fifth time a UWW coach has earned the award in program history. Pesch was recognized as UW-Whitewater’s representative on the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team.
