| 2003 Highlights |
Titans Finish Sixth At NCGA Championship
Registering its third-highest
score of the season, the UW-Oshkosh women's gymnastics team finished sixth
at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championship
held Friday-Saturday (March 29-30) in Eau Claire.
UW-La Crosse, with school-record performances of 46.075 on the uneven bars and 48.275 in the floor exercise, compiled 183.95 points to win its third straight NCGA title. State University of New York-Cortland scored 183.775 points to finish second for the second straight year.
Ursinus College (Pa.) took third place in the eight-team meet with 181.325 points, while Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) finished fourth at 180.90, UW-Eau Claire fifth at 180.50, UW-Oshkosh sixth at 178.175, Ithaca College (N.Y.) seventh at 177.975 and State University of New York-Brockport eighth at 177.675. UW-Oshkosh won the NCGA Championship in 1989.
Individually, UW-Oshkosh's Jennifer Williams (Sr. • Ham Lake, Minn.) and Brianna Lentz (Fr. • West Allis) both recorded a pair of top-11 rankings. Williams finished third on the balance beam with a score of 19.05 and 10th in the floor exercise with a mark of 18.925, while Lentz placed seventh in the all-around competition with a count of 35.975 and 11th in the floor exercise with a figure of 18.875.
The individual competition featured Danin Squires of State University of New York-Cortland repeating as balance beam champion as she tied UW-Eau Claire's Lynn Morris with a score of 19.100. The vault title belonged to Alyssa Cox of Gustavus Adolphus College who posted a score of 18.925.
The uneven bars event was dominated by UW-La Crosse as Michelle Saxton and Nina Schubert finished first and second with scores of 19.05 and 19.025, respectively. The floor exercise crown was won by Jordan Christiano of State University of New York-Brockport with a score of 19.375.
Lindsay Marranco of State University of New York-Cortland claimed the all-around title with a score of 37.025, while Kristen Grimmel of Ursinus College finished second at 37.00.
Following the meet, awards were presented to Gary Babjack of State University of New York-Cortland as the 2003 NCGA Coach of the Year and Williams as the 2003 NCGA Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Williams, captain of the Titans for the past three seasons, is a nursing major who carries a 3.57 cumulative grade point average. At the 2003 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championship she won the balance beam title for the second straight year. Williams has earned All-WIAC honors 11 times as well as being an NCGA All-American three times.
The list of Scholar All-Americans by the NCGA included UW-Oshkosh's Melissa Cummins (Sr. • Elysian, Minn.) and Williams.
Titans Qualify For NCGA Championship
The UW-Oshkosh women's
gymnastics team will compete at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association
(NCGA) Championship for the third time in four years and the 10th time
overall following its fourth-place finish at the NCGA West Regional held
Friday (March 14) in Menomonie.
Defending national champion UW-La Crosse captured the NCGA West Regional title with a score of 180.95, while UW-Eau Claire finished second at 179.175 and Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) third at 179.025. The team scoring was completed by fourth-place UW-Oshkosh at 177.35, fifth-place UW-Stout at 176.60, sixth-place Hamline University (Minn.) at 174.50 and seventh-place UW-Whitewater at 154.85.
UW-La Crosse, UW-Eau Claire, Gustavus Adolphus College and UW-Oshkosh will all represent the West Region at the NCGA Championship on March 28-29 in Eau Claire. UW-Oshkosh won the NCGA Championship in 1989.
Jennifer Williams (Sr. • Ham Lake, Minn.) was UW-Oshkosh's lone event champion at the NCGA West Regional, finishing first on the balance beam with a score of 9.40 to successfully defend her title. Williams also finished seventh in the floor exercise with a score of 9.275.
Brianna Lentz (Fr. • West Allis) also had a stellar meet for the Titans, finishing second in the all-around competition with a score of 36.325, sixth on the vault with a score of 9.225 and eighth on the uneven bars with a score of 8.975. Another superb effort was turned in by Melissa Cummins (Sr. • Elysian, Minn.), who finished third in the floor exercise with a score of 9.40 and fourth on the balance beam with a count of 9.25.
UW-Oshkosh also received a seventh-place score of 9.05 from Melanie Nichols (Fr. • Galesville) on the balance beam and an eighth-place tally of 9.175 from Heather Downs (So. • Loudon, Tenn.) on the vault.
Amanda Parker of Gustavus Adolphus College was the top individual performer in the meet, winning the all-around competition with a score of 36.725, the vault with a score of 9.425 and the uneven bars with a score of 9.40. She shared the uneven bars title with UW-La Crosse's Michelle Saxton. Winning the floor exercise with a score of 9.45 was UW-Stout's Cassie Johnston.
Titans Place Fourth At Zuerlein Invitational
The UW-Oshkosh women's
gymnastics team compiled its fourth-best score of the season en route
to a fourth-place finish at the Zuerlein Invitational held Friday (March
7) in Menomonie.
Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) won the six-team meet with a score of 179.275, while NCAA Division II Winona State University (Minn.) finished second with a count of 177.725. Finishing close behind Winona State University were third-place UW-Eau Claire at 177.425 and fourth-place UW-Oshkosh at 177.400.
UW-Oshkosh set a season best on the balance beam with a score of 45.875. The Titans' Jennifer Williams (Sr. • Ham Lake, Minn.) won the event with a score of 9.575, while teammates Melissa Cummins (Sr. • Elysian, Minn.) and Melanie Nichols (Fr. • Galesville) tied for sixth place with marks of 9.20.
UW-Oshkosh's Brianna Lentz (Fr. • West Allis) finished fourth in the all-around competition with a score of 36.10, benefiting from a third-place mark of 9.25 in the floor exercise, a fourth-place tally of 8.85 on the uneven bars and a fifth-place figure of 9.25 on the vault.
The Titans also had Williams finish third in the floor exercise with a score of 9.25 and Cummins fifth on the vault with a mark of 9.25.
Williams Named WIAC Scholar-Athlete Of The Year
Williams is majoring in nursing and carries a 3.57 grade point average. She has been named to the UW-Oshkosh Honor Roll every semester. Williams, a team captain for the last three seasons, recently helped the Titans to a third-place finish at the WIAC Championship by winning the balance beam title for the second straight season and placing third in the floor exercise. She has now earned All-WIAC honors 11 times in her career and is a three-time All-American. Williams earned All-America accolades after placing second on the uneven bars, fourth on the balance beam and 10th in the all-around at last year's NCGA Championship. Williams is president of the UW-Oshkosh Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and is a member of the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Club, Student Nurses Association and the campus crusade for Christ. Williams becomes the third Titan to win the women's gymnastics scholar-athlete honor, joining 2002 winner Kristine Arquette and 1992 winner Karen Nass. The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is sponsored by Culver's. In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, be in their last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years. |
Titans Finish Third At WIAC Championship
UW-La Crosse earned
its seventh consecutive team title at the 30th Annual WIAC Women's Gymnastics
Championship held Friday (Feb. 28) in Kolf Sports Center.
UW-La Crosse won the five-team meet with a score of 182.575, while UW-Eau Claire finished second at 180.325, UW-Oshkosh third at 179.45, UW-Stout fourth at 175.60 and UW-Whitewater fifth at 162.55. It was the 24th time in 25 years that UW-Oshkosh had finished in the top three.
UW-La Crosse claimed only one of five individual championships as Angela Erato won the uneven bars with a score of 9.025. The Eagles, however, displayed solid depth as they placed at least two gymnasts in the top-six finishes in the balance beam, floor exercise, uneven bars and vault competitions.
Alison Eagles of UW-Eau Claire stole the individual headlines as she finished first in the all-around competition and on the vault with scores of 37.10 and 9.325, respectively. Eagles, who shared the top spot on the vault with UW-Oshkosh's Melissa Cummins (Sr. • Elysian, Minn.), also finished fifth in the floor exercise and sixth on both the balance beam and uneven bars. Cummins also took top honors on the vault in 2000 and 2001.
In addition to Cummins, UW-Oshkosh also had Brianna Lentz (Fr. • West Allis) win the floor exercise with a score of 9.80 and Jennifer Williams (Sr. • Ham Lake, Minn.) the balance beam with a figure of 9.50. Williams was one of four contestants to share the balance beam crown a year ago.
Finishing behind Eagles in the all-around competition were Lentz at 36.50, UW-Whitewater's Ann Kingsnorth at 36.425, UW-Stout's Lacey Schroedl at 35.575, UW-Stout's Tiffany Reber at 35.525 and UW-Eau Claire's Kristin Reitzel at 35.25.
Joining Eagles and Cummins as top performers on the vault were third-place Jessica Pink of UW-Eau Claire with a score of 9.30, fourth-place Nancy Petersen of UW-La Crosse at 9.275, fifth-place Jordann Ojanpa of UW-La Crosse at 9.175 and sixth-place Kingsnorth and Lentz at 9.10.
Following Erato in the uneven bars standings were second-place Kingsnorth at 8.95, third-place Darlene Benedetti and Melanie Rigby of UW-La Crosse and Lentz at 8.90 and sixth-place Eagles at 8.90.
Williams was followed by UW-Eau Claire's Lynn Morris on the balance beam with a score of 9.475. The top-six finishers were completed by third-place Jenna Houle of UW-La Crosse at 9.45, fourth-place Petersen and Cummins at 9.375 and sixth-place Eagles at 9.30.
In order behind Lentz in the floor exercise were second-place Houle at 9.775, third-place Williams at 9.725, fourth-place Reber at 9.65, fifth-place Eagles at 9.60 and sixth-place April Hubmann of UW-Whitewater at 9.575.
The top six finishers in the four events and the all-around competition receive All-WIAC accolades.
Kerrie Beach of UW-Oshkosh was named WIAC Coach of the Year, while Williams was chosen as the Judy Kruckman WIAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Titans Top Pipers, Warriors In Triangular
Brianna Lentz (Fr.
• West Allis) took three first-place finishes and Jennifer Williams
(Sr. • Ham Lake, Minn.) one as the UW-Oshkosh women's gymnastics
team defeated both Hamline University (Minn.) and Winona State University
(Minn.) on Wednesday (Feb. 19) in St. Paul, Minn.
UW-Oshkosh won the triangular with a score of 176.225, while NCAA Division II Winona State University finished second with a count of 175.30 and host Hamline University third with a figure of 172.10.
Lentz was the top individual performer in the meet as she won the all-around competition with a score of 36.50 and the uneven bars and vault events with counts of 9.10 and 9.15, respectively. Williams' lone victory came on the balance beam, where she compiled a winning score of 9.30.
UW-Oshkosh had one second-place finisher in the meet as Melissa Cummins (Sr. • Elysian, Minn.) scored a 9.10 on the vault.
Winning the floor exercise competition were Kristen Driscoll of Hamline University and Leah Kindem of Winona State University, who both shared the top spot with scores of 9.375.
Titans Trim Blugolds
Williams' first reason for elation came during UW-Oshkosh's 177.775-176.650 dual victory over UW-Eau Claire as she won the balance beam with a score of 9.575 and finished second in the floor exercise with a mark of 9.50. Shortly after the meet and before the crowd of 115 dispersed, Williams had reason to celebrate once again as she replied "Yes" when asked for her hand in marriage by boyfriend Brandon Scholes. In addition to Williams' winning performance on the balance beam, UW-Oshkosh also had two other first-place finishes as Melissa Cummins (Sr. • Elysian, Minn.) scored a 9.60 in the floor exercise and Brianna Lentz (Fr. • West Allis) a 35.50 in the all-around competition. Cummins also added a second-place finish on the vault with a score of 9.00. Other top efforts for the Titans included a second-place finish by Alyssa Moreck (Fr. • Berlin, Md.) on the uneven bars with a score of 8.95. |
Titans Finish Third At Gershon/McLellan Invite
Competing against
its other four WIAC adversaries, the UW-Oshkosh women's gymnastics team
finished third at the 22nd Annual Gershon/McLellan Invitational held Friday
(Feb. 7) in La Crosse.
Host and defending WIAC champion UW-La Crosse won the meet with a score of 177.25, while UW-Eau Claire finished second at 174.325, UW-Oshkosh third at 171.80, UW-Stout fourth at 169.575 and UW-Whitewater fifth at 150.35. The Titans' overall score was aided by a meet-best 44.825 on the balance beam, but hampered by a season-low 38.75 on the uneven bars.
UW-Oshkosh had two individual first-place finishes in the meet as Brianna Lentz (Fr. • West Allis) scored 36.275 in the all-around competition and Jennifer Williams (Sr. • Ham Lake, Minn.) a season-best 9.40 on the vault. Lentz also finished second on the vault with a score of 9.05 and sixth in the floor exercise with a mark of 9.25, while Williams placed fifth on the vault with a count of 8.90.
Other top-five finishes for UW-Oshkosh went to Alyssa Moreck (Fr. • Berlin, Md.), who finished fourth on the uneven bars with a season-best score of 8.925, and Melanie Nichols (Fr. • Galesville), who finished fourth on the balance beam with a score of 8.95.
Titans Topple Blue Devils
UW-Oshkosh won three of the four events as Brianna Lentz (Fr. • West Allis) scored 9.325 on the vault, Wendy Wiederholt (Jr. • Hazel Green) 9.25 on the balance beam and Jennifer Williams (Sr. • Ham Lake, Minn.) 9.40 in the floor exercise. Lentz, who also finished third in the floor exercise with a score of 9.20 and fourth on the uneven bars with a mark of 8.60, won the all-around competition with a count of 35.825. The lone UW-Stout victory went to Cassandra Johnson, who posted a first-place score of 8.85 on the uneven bars. Recording second-place finishes for the Titans were Melissa Cummins (Sr. • Elysian, Minn.) in the floor exercise with a score of 9.25, Alyssa Moreck (Fr. • Berlin, Md.) on the uneven bars with a figure of 8.825 and Williams on the balance beam with a mark of 9.20. |
Titans Finish Sixth In Hoosier State
The UW-Oshkosh women's
gymnastics team finished sixth out of seven teams at the Ball State University
Cardinal Classic on Friday (Jan. 24) in Muncie, Ind.
Central Michigan University won the meet with a score of 193.20, while Ball State University finished second with 192.975 and Southeast Missouri State University third with 192.425.
The team scoring was completed by fourth-place Northern Illinois University with 192.30, fifth-place Winona State University (Minn.) with 185.45, sixth-place UW-Oshkosh with 180.95 and seventh-place UW-Stout with 174.90. UW-Oshkosh's team score was its best of the season.
In a meet dominated by gymnasts who are on scholarship, Melissa Cummins (Sr. • Elysian, Minn.) and Wendy Wiederholt (Jr. • Hazel Green) were the lone UW-Oshkosh competitors to register a top-20 finish. Wiederholt placed 17th on the balance beam with a score of 9.475, while Cummins ranked 18th in the floor exercise with a mark of 9.675.
The Titans also received a 21st-place finish (9.275) on the balance beam and a 25th-place finish (9.40) on the vault from Brianna Lentz (Fr. • West Allis) and a 22nd-place finish (9.60) in the floor exercise from Jennifer Williams (Sr. • Ham Lake, Minn.).
Ashley Godwin of Southeast Missouri State University was a double-winner in the meet, recording scores of 39.025 in the all-around competition and 9.90 in the floor exercise. Other event winners were Michele Orloski of Central Michigan University on the vault with a score of 9.775, Jessica Surridge of Ball State University on the uneven bars with a score of 9.825 and Quiana Williams of Ball State University on the balance beam with a score of 9.875.
Gusties' Season Best Tops Titans
Parker won the all-around competition with a score of 36.5 and placed first in the floor exercise with a school-record tying mark of 9.6. She also posted scores of 9.4 to win both the balance beam and uneven bars events. UW-Oshkosh's lone first-place finish came on the vault, where Melissa Cummins (Sr. • Elysian, Minn.) registered a winning score of 8.85. Cummins also finished fourth on the balance beam with a score of 8.95 and sixth in the floor exercise with a figure of 8.85. Brianna Lentz (Fr. • West Allis) added three second-place finishes for the Titans, compiling scores of 35.65 in the all-around competition, 8.7 on the vault and 9.1 on the uneven bars. UW-Oshkosh also received a second-place finish of 9.15 on the balance beam by Wendy Wiederholt (Jr. • Hazel Green). |
Titans Finish Second To Blugolds In Triangular
Brianna Lentz (Fr. • West
Allis) won the floor exercise and finished second in the all-around competition
as the UW-Oshkosh women's gymnastics team fell to UW-Eau Claire in a triangular
held Friday (Jan. 10) in Whitewater. The event marked the 2003 season
opener for the Titans.
UW-Eau Claire won the meet with a score of 171.475, while UW-Oshkosh finished second at 170.425 and host UW-Whitewater third at 167.125. A year ago, UW-Oshkosh had a score of 165.35 in its season debut.
Lentz led UW-Oshkosh by winning the floor exercise with a score of 9.55 and finishing second in the all-around competition with a combined count of 34.675. She also had marks of 8.475 on the uneven bars, 8.35 on the balance beam and 8.30 on the vault.
The Titans' remaining top-three finishes also came in the floor exercise, where Lauren Mareno (Fr. • Crystal Lake, Ill.) placed second with a score of 9.225 and Melissa Cummins (Sr. • Elysian, Minn.) third at 9.20 behind Lentz.