Sarah Knetzke poses with a medal after tying for first on the beam and setting a new program record.
By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
Lebanon, Tenn. – The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater gymnastics team set a number of records in a historic night in the Tennessee Collegiate Classic Friday night. The Warhawks broke the Division III and UWW record for total score, 194.450, while also setting team and individual records on the balance beam. The meet also featured three Division I opponents: Kent State, Ball State and Southeastern Missouri.
In addition to setting the Division III record, UW-Whitewater’s team total crushed the program record that had stood since 2018 by 0.75.
The Warhawks posted record book-worthy scores throughout the evening, but the final event of the night for UWW was a highlight. UW-Whitewater posted a team total of 48.700 on the balance beam to break the program record. Sarah Knetzke led the way with an incredible 9.925 to tie for first at the meet and set the program record. Her mark is the best on the apparatus for a Warhawk since Allyse Dieringer’s 9.900 in 2014. Chloe Hammond added a 9.85 to finish among the top 10 at the meet followed by Tegan Haberstock’s 9.725. Kelsey Kollhoff posted a 9.650 and Ashnaya Gupta rounded out the scoring five with a 9.550.
UW-Whitewater registered the third-highest team totals in each of the other three events – 48.850 on the floor, 48.400 on the vault and 48.500 on the bars.
The Warhawks opened the meet on the floor exercise. Carleigh Moore’s fantastic performance scored a 9.850, tied for third-best in program history. Haberstock added a top 15 mark in the UWW record book with a 9.800 in the event. Elena Bailey and Knetzke posted 9.750’s while Danielle Dudziak registered a score of 9.700.
Moore paced UWW on the vault with a score of 9.775, tied for 14th in the UWW record book. Dudziak added a 9.725 followed by 9.650’s from Ava Pesch and Elena Bailey. Kora Donley wrapped up the scoring five with a 9.600.
On the uneven bars, Kollhoff and Paige Magel led the Warhawks with matching scores of 9.775, tied for 11th-best in program history. Pesch, Hammond and Dudziak all registered matching scores of 9.650 in the event to add to the team total.
Ball State won the Tennessee Collegiate Classic (198.025) followed by Kent State (197.725), SEMO (197.050) and UWW.
The Warhawks return to Whitewater for their home-opener Saturday, January 27. UWW will host UW-La Crosse at 4 p.m. The Warhawks will celebrate the 10.0 Club, Youth Night and recognize the parents of the 2024 team.
