UW-La Crosse claimed its 10th consecutive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women's Gymnastics Championship at Kolf Sports Center on March 3.

The conference title for the Eagles is the 17th in school history (2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1995, 1994, 1990, 1988, 1978, 1975, 1974).

UW-La Crosse compiled 182.900 team points to outlast UW-Eau Claire for the fourth straight season. The Blugolds totaled 181.000 points and were followed by UW-Oshkosh (180.900), Hamline University (Minn.) (179.175), UW-Whitewater (178.900), Winona State University (Minn.) (178.375), Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) (177.850) and UW-Stout (173.500).

UW-La Crosse's was led by Mackenzie Howard who claimed the vault, balance beam and all-around titles. She secured the vault crown with a score of 9.650 and was followed by UW-Oshkosh's Vanessa Virbitsky (9.525), Gustavus Adolphus' Brittany Moore and UW-La Crosse's Jackie LaFleur (9.500), UW-Stout's Rhian Paulson (9.450) and UW-La Crosse's Erin Sommer (9.425).

Howard shared the championship in the balance beam with Hamline's Brynn Stenslie after both competitors posted a score of 9.475. UW-Eau Claire's Jenni Wick was third (9.350) and was followed by UW-La Crosse's Ann Fitzsimmons (9.325), UW-Eau Claire's Theresa Lynch (9.275) and UW-Eau Claire's Melanie Nichols (9.250).

In the all-around competition, Howard posted a score of 37.575. She was trailed by UW-Eau Claire's Theresa Lynch (37.000), UW-Whitewater's Danielle Crinzi (36.800), UW-Stout's Rhian Paulson (36.550), UW-Oshkosh's Virbitsky (36.250) and UW-Eau Claire's Lynn Morris (36.100).

The Eagles' Ann Fitzsimmons captured the uneven bars crown with a score of 9.425 and was followed by UW-Oshkosh's Kelly Busacker (9.400), UW-Whitewater's Crinzi (9.400), UW-Eau Claire's Morris (9.300), Winona State's Heidi Kick (9.200) and Hamline's Katie Davis (9.100).

UW-Whitewater's Crinzi claimed the floor exercise title with a score of 9.675. UW-Oshkosh's Kristen Beeler and Gustavus Adolphus' Christine Acklam were second (9.650), UW-Eau Claire's Lynch (9.550), UW-Oshkosh's Virbitsky (9.525) and Hamline's Stenslie, UW-La Crosse's Michelle Sletten, UW-La Crosse's Howard and UW-Whitewater's Megan Finnegan finished in a four-way tie for sixth (9.500).

The top six finishers in the four events and the all-around competition received all-WIAC accolades. UW-Oshkosh's Nadalie Walsh and Winona State's Beckie Rolbiecki were voted Co-Coaches of the Year by the league coaches. It marks the second straight year that Walsh has been recognized, while Rolbiecki was acknowledged for the first time in her career. UW-La Crosse's Nina Schubert was named the winner of the WIAC's Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award.

UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse and UW-Oshkosh advanced to the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championship on March 24-25 in Brockport, N.Y. Individual qualifiers are expected to be announced next week.

Complete Final Results