2002-03 WIAC Women's Gymnastics Headlines

2002-03 WIAC Women's Gymnastics Headlines

Four Named To Women's Academic All-District At-Large Team

RELEASED: Thursday, May 22, 2003

Madison, Wis.--Four Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2003 Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District Five College Division Women's At-Large Team. UW-Eau Claire's Alison Hover, UW-Oshkosh's Debra Ashenbrenner and UW-Stevens Point's Jen Randall received first team honors, while UW-La Crosse's Michelle Saxton was a second team pick.

The team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA players from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota and voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The squad includes the sports of golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, swimming and tennis.

Hover, a senior tennis player from St. Cloud, Minn. (Tech H.S.), earned academic all-district first team honors for the second straight season. She carries a 3.95 grade point average, while majoring in math/finance and was named the WIAC women's tennis scholar-athlete earlier this year. Hover has won four straight league singles titles, claiming the No. 1 title the last two seasons and the No. 3 crown in 1999 and 2000. She was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Midwest Rookie of the Year in 1999.

Ashenbrenner, a senior tennis player from Menasha, Wis., is majoring in elementary education with a 3.92 grade point average. She is two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete and has been named to UW-Oshkosh's Dean's List seven semesters. Ashenbrenner is two-time WIAC doubles champion, winning the No. 1 flight in 2001 and 1999. She was voted the team's Most Valuable Player this season and finished second in the league meet at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles.

Randall, a senior swimmer from Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (Lincoln H.S.), is a double major in mathematics with actuarial emphasis and business administration with a minor in economics and maintains a 3.97 grade point average. She was an Academic All-America At-Large Third Team selection last year and was named the WIAC women's swimming and diving scholar-athlete earlier this season. Randall is a nine-time conference champion, seven-time First Team All-American and five-time Honorable Mention All-American. She was named UW-Stevens Point's Athlete of the Year in an individual sport this season.

Saxton, a senior gymnast from Corcoran, Minn. (Buffalo H.S.), is majoring in secondary education and carries a 3.85 grade point average. She is a member of the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) All-Scholastic Team and is the chair of the UW-La Crosse Winner's Council. Saxton won the uneven bars at this year's NCGA championship, helping the Eagles claim their third straight national title. She is a three-time NCGA All-American and won the uneven bars crown at the 2001 WIAC championship.

Ashenbrenner, Hover and Randall are now eligible for the Academic All-America squad, which will be announced in June.

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UW-La Crosse Claims Third Straight NCGA Title

NCGA Eau Claire, Wis.--The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's gymnastics team scored a 183.950 en route to winning the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championship (NCGA) title for the third consecutive year at the NCGA Championships held at the McPhee Physical Education Center on Friday, March 28.

SUNY-Cortland finished second with a score of 183.775, followed by Ursinus (Pa.) (181.325), Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) (180.900), UW-Eau Claire (180.500), UW-Oshkosh (178.175), Ithaca (NY) (177.975) and SUNY-Brockport (177.675).

The three straight national titles by the Eagles is the longest streak since Gustavus Adolphus won five crowns from 1990 to 1994.

UW-La Crosse claimed the 2001 and 2002 NCGA titles with scores of 182.52 and 184.925, respectively. The 2003 Eagles won the title by winning both the uneven bars and floor exercise competitions. UW-La Crosse scored a 46.075 to capture the uneven bars, while UW-Eau Claire finished second with a 44.325.

UW-La Crosse also took first place in the floor exercise, posting a score of 48.275, while SUNY-Cortland finished second with a 47.950.

UW-La Crosse was led by the duo of Michelle Saxton and Nina Schubert who took first and second place in the uneven bars event. Saxton took first with a 9.500, while Schubert finished with a 9.425.

UW-Eau Claire's Lynn Morris scored the highest mark on the balance beam with a 9.525. Cassie Johnson, who participated in the championships as an individual from UW-Stout, claimed the second highest score on the beam with a 9.500.

Gustavus Adolphus took first and second place in the vault as Alyssa Cox and Amanda Parker provided the one-two punch. Cox scored the highest mark on the evening with a 9.500, while Parker finished with a 9.400.

Brianna Lentz of UW-Oshkosh shared the high score in the floor exercise with a 9.750. Jordan Christian of SUNY-Brockport matched the score.

In individual competition held on Saturday, March 29, UW-La Crosse was led by Michelle Saxton who won the uneven bars crown with a mark of 19.050 to earn her third career All-America honor.

UW-Eau Claire's Lynn Morris became only the second Blugold ever to win an individual championship when she tied for first place in the balance beam with a score of 19.100. Julie Hardtke was the first Blugold to win an individual title when she won the balance beam title in 1985. Morris also captured All-America honors in the uneven bars with a fourth-place finish.

UW-Eau Claire's Alison Eagles finished third in the vault and all-around competition to earn her first and second career All-America accolades. The Blugolds' Kristina Reitzel placed 10th in the all-around to capture All-America status.

UW-La Crosse's Nina Schubert and Jaime Randall each earn All-America honors in the uneven bars. Schubert finished second, while Randall placed fifth.

The Eagles had three individuals capture All-America status in the floor exercise. Jenny Struve and Leslie Stewart tied for third, while Nancy Petersen finished fifth.

UW-Stout's Cassie Johnston and Tiffany Reber both earned All-America honors. Johnston placed fourth in the balance beam, while Reber finished eighth in the all-around.

UW-Oshkosh's Jennifer Williams finished third in the balance beam, while her teammate, Brianna Lentz placed seventh in the all-around. Both individuals earned All-America honors. Williams was also awarded the NCGA Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.

The NCGA also announced a 24-member All-Academic Team. Named to the squad from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference were: UW-Eau Claire's Erin Henrich and Lara Harris, UW-La Crosse's Jaime Randall, Michelle Saxton and Leslie Stewart, UW-Oshkosh's Melissa Cummins and Jennifer Williams and UW-Stout's Tiffany Reber.

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UW-La Crosse Captures NCGA West Regional Crown

Menomonie, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse won the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) West Region crown on Friday, March 14 at UW-Stout's Johnson Fieldhouse.

UW-La Crosse totaled 180.950 team points to win the regional event. UW-Eau Claire finished second (179.175), followed by Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) (179.025), UW-Oshkosh (177.350), UW-Stout (176.600), Hamline (Minn.) (174.500) and UW-Whitewater (154.850).

Gustavus Adolphus' Amanda Parker won three individual events, including defending her two previous titles. Parker repeated as all-around champion with a score of 37.325 and defended the vault title with a score of 9.475. Parker also tied for the uneven bar top spot with UW-La Crosse's Michelle Saxton. Both competitors went home with a score of 9.40.

Jennifer Williams of UW-Oshkosh successfully defended her balance beam title, topping the field with a 9.50. Host UW-Stout's Cassie Johnston, a freshman, won the floor exercise with a score of 9.45.

The NCGA will wrap up their season March 28-29 with the national championships at UW-Eau Claire. The top four teams from each regional advance in team competition. Individual competitors will find out early next week if they advance to the national championships.

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UW-Oshkosh's Williams Named Women's Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete

RELEASED: Tuesday, March 4, 2003

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's Jennifer Williams has been named the 2003 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women's Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Williams, a senior from Ham Lake, Minn. (Blaine H.S.), 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 Kristine Arquette (2002) and Karen Nass (1992).

Also nominated for the scholar-athlete award were: UW-Eau Claire's Erin Henrich and Lara Harris, UW-La Crosse's Jamie Randall, Michelle Saxton and Leslie Stewart and UW-Stout's Tasha Pasch and Tiffany Reber.

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.

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UW-La Crosse Earns Seventh Straight Women's Gymnastics Championship

WIAC Championship Trophy Oshkosh, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse earned its seventh straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's gymnastics championship at Kolf Sports Center on February 28. The Eagles scored 182.575 team points in the five-team competition. UW-Eau Claire finished second (180.325), followed by UW-Oshkosh (179.450), UW-Stout (175.600) and UW-Whitewater (162.550).

The seven team titles is the longest streak in the conference since UW-Oshkosh won nine consecutive league crowns from 1979-87.

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 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, 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.

UW-Oshkosh claimed a pair of individual crowns on the evening. Brianna Lentz won the floor exercise with a score of 9.80 and Jennifer Williams 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 Kristina Reitzel at 35.250.

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.

UW-Oshkosh head coach Kerrie Beach was voted the league's Coach of the Year after helping the Titans to a top-three finish for the 24th time in 25 years.

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White Named UW-Whitewater Women's Gymnastics Coach

RELEASED: Monday, August 19, 2002 (Written By: Tom Fick, UW-W Sports Information Director)

Whitewater, Wis.--Jennifer White has been named the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater head women's gymnastics coach.

White has been a successful gymnastics competitor and coach. A four-year member of the gymnastics team while a student at Springfield College (MA), she earned all-conference honors, team event, on the uneven bars (1994 and 1997) and the balance beam (1997). In 1996 and 1997 she was named an All-American on the uneven bars, leading Springfield to the Division III national championship in 1996. She advanced from the Division III championship meet to qualify for the Division II meet in the floor exercise in 1995, and on the uneven bars in 1996.

After serving as a graduate assistant at Springfield for two years, White has been a sixth grade science teacher in the Darien Public Schools (CT). The past three years she has been the Darien High School girl's gymnastics coach. In her first year she was named Connecticut Post Coach of the Year after leading her team to the Connecticut Class "S" state championship team - the first of three in a row she would help the team capture. Darien's uneven bars team won the state title all three years, and in 2002 White also mentored the state Class "S" winner in the all-around, balance beam, and floor exercise individual competition. She also coached the 2002 state open, and New England, vaulting champion. White's team won league championships in both 2000 and 2002.

We're pleased that Jennifer has accepted the women's head gymnastics coaching position," Eichorst commented. "She has a strong Division III gymnastics background as both a competitor and coach. Jennifer is an extremely organized and motivated person, who will help is bring the program to the next level."

White earned her bachelor of science degree in biology from Springfield in 1997, and her master of education degree, also from Springfield, in 1999. Along with her gymnastics duties, White will teach in the Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Coaching Department.

White takes over for Wendy DeMore who resigned to take a job with the Elkhorn school district. Women's gymnastics is a winter sport at UW-Whitewater, with the 2002-2003 competitive season set to begin December 13 at Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minnesota, and the home schedule getting under way January 10 at 7:00 with UW-Eau Claire and UW-Oshkosh visiting Williams Center.

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