2003-04 WIAC Women's Gymnastics Season Headlines

Four Earn Women's Academic All-District At-Large Team Honors

RELEASED: Thursday, May 27, 2004

Madison, Wis.--Four Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2004 CoSIDA Academic All-District Five College Division Women's At-Large Team. UW-La Crosse's Anne Melvin was named to the first team, while UW-La Crosse's Angela Erato and Elizabeth Miles and UW-Stevens Point's Jacci Menzel were second team selections.

Melvin, a junior swimmer from Abbotsford, Wis., carries a 3.83 grade point average and is majoring in nuclear medicine technology. She secured All-America honors in five events during the 2004 national meet, including an eighth-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly. Miles won the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly at the 2004 conference championship and was also a member of three winning relay teams. She holds the league record in the 100-yard butterfly and has won 10 conference titles (four individual, six relays) in her career.

Erato, a senior gymnast from Brookfield, Wis. (Pius XI H.S.), is majoring in art with a minor in English and psychology and maintains a 3.72 grade point average. She ranks in the top 15 percent of her class at UW-La Crosse and was named to the 2004 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) All-Academic Team. Erato is a six-time All-WIAC performer, including conference championships in the uneven bars in 2003 and the floor exercise in 2002. She claimed the national title in the balance beam during the 2001 campaign.

Menzel, a junior swimmer from Stevens Point, Wis. (SPASH), maintains a 3.96 grade point average, while majoring in communicative disorders. She earned All-America honors as a member of the 200-yard medley relay team for the second straight season and also finished third in the conference in the 100-yard breaststroke in 2004.

Miles, a junior swimmer from Minnetonka, Minn., is majoring in social studies/history and sustains a 3.85 grade point average. She earned All-America honors in the 200-yard butterfly and 400-yard individual medley in 2004 and also captured both events at the conference championship. Miles holds the conference record in the 200-yard butterfly and 400-yard individual medley and has been named the WIAC Athlete of the Week six times in her career.

The academic all-district at-large team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA student-athletes from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota and is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). It includes the sports of golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, swimming and diving and tennis.

Melvin is now eligible for the Academic All-America squad, which will be announced in mid-June.

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Cambridge, Mass.--The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's gymnastics team won its fourth consecutive National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championship on Friday, April 2 at the Johnson Athletic Center on the campus of Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The Eagles totaled a school and NCGA Championship record score of 191.275 points en route to winning the ninth NCGA title in school history. Ithaca (NY) finished second with 189.800 points, followed by SUNY-Brockport (189.35), SUNY-Cortland (187.800), Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) (187.425), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (186.300), Hamline (Minn.) (185.900) and UW-Eau Claire (185.525).

UW-La Crosse won the vault (47.650), uneven bars (47.475) and floor exercise (459.100) competitions and set school records in each event.

In the vault, UW-La Crosse's Katie Krenz and Nancy Petersen tied for fifth (9.575), while their teammates, Kaitlyn Haack and Melissa Marsack tied for 11th (9.525). UW-Eau Claire's Alison Eagles tied for 14th (9.500).

UW-La Crosse's Ashley Koechel and Nina Schubert tied for second (9.575) on the uneven bars, while UW-Eau Claire's Lynn Morris finished fifth (9.525). UW-La Crosse's Darlene Benedetti finished seventh (9.475) and Michelle Sletten and Krenz tied for 11th (9.425). UW-Whitewater's Ann Kingsnorth and UW-Eau Claire's Eagles tied for 15th (9.400).

On the balance beam, UW-La Crosse's Jennifer Houle tied for third (9.600) and Angela Erato tied for sixth (9.550). UW-Eau Claire's Morris finished ninth (9.525) and UW-Eau Claire's Jenni Wick and UW-Whitewater's Kingsnorth tied for 14th (9.450).

In the floor exercise, UW-La Crosse's Houle tied for second (9.875), while Ashley Koechel and Petersen tied for fourth (9.850). UW-Eau Claire's Eagles tied for 11th (9.825) and UW-La Crosse's Jenny Struve and UW-Stout's Rhian Paulson tied for 15th (9.800).

UW-Whitewater's Kingsnorth tied for fourth in the all-around competition with a score of 37.975, while UW-La Crosse's Kochel finished sixth (37.925) and UW-Eau Claire's Eagles finished eighth (37.575). All three individuals claimed All-America honors for their performances.

In individual competition held on Saturday, April 3, UW-La Crosse was led by Schubert who won the uneven bars with a NCGA championship score of 19.375. The Eagles' Katie Krenz finished fourth (19.150), Benedetti finished fifth (19.025) and Sletten finished sixth (19.025). All four individuals earned All-America accolades.

In the balance beam, UW-La Crosse's Houle finished second (19.250) and Erato finished third (19.200). UW-Eau Claire's Morris finished fourth (19.175).

UW-La Crosse's Houle finished second (19.725) in the floor exercise and Peterson tied for fourth on the vault (19.225) to secure All-America honors.

The NCGA also announced a 29-member All-Academic Team. To qualify for the honor, a gymnast must be in her final year of competition and maintain a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.00 scale). Individuals from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) receiving recognition included: UW-Eau Claire's Kelly Settle, UW-La Crosse's Darlene Benedetti, Angela Erato, Kim Klopfer, Nancy Petersen and Jenny Struve, UW-Oshkosh's Wendy Wiederholt and UW-Whitewater's Ann Kingsnorth, Lisa Mueller, Marisa Puente and Joy Sayre.

2004 WIAC All-Americans:
Vault: Nancy Petersen (UW-La Crosse--4th)

Uneven Bars: Nina Schubert (UW-La Crosse--Champion), Katie Krenz (UW-La Crosse--4th), Darlene Benedetti (UW-La Crosse--5th), Michelle Sletten (UW-La Crosse--6th)

Balance Beam: Jennifer Houle (UW-La Crosse--2nd), Angela Erato (UW-La Crosse--3rd), Lynn Morris (UW-Eau Claire--4th)

Floor Exercise: Jennifer Houle (UW-La Crosse--2nd)

All-Around: Ann Kingsnorth (UW-Whitewater--4th), Ashley Koechel (UW-La Crosse--6th), Alison Eagles (UW-Eau Claire--8th)

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WIAC Gymnasts Heading To NCGA Championship

RELEASED: Wednesday, March 24, 2004

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and UW-La Crosse women's gymnastics teams have qualified for the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) championship to be held April 2-3 in Cambridge, Mass. on the campus of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In addition to the two teams, eight individuals from the WIAC have also qualified for the national competition.

UW-La Crosse has won three straight NCGA national championships, while UW-Eau Claire will be competing as a team for the second consecutive season.

Individuals from the WIAC that have qualified for the national meet include: UW-Oshkosh's Amanda DeJardin (balance beam), Brianna Lentz (all-around) and Justine Russell (vault and balance beam), UW-Stout's Rhian Paulson (vault and floor exercise) and Lesley Rick (uneven bars) and UW-Whitewater's Megan Finnegan (floor exercise), April Hubmann (uneven bars) and Ann Kingsnorth (all-around).

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Eau Claire, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse defended its National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) West Region title with a team score of 185.125, while UW-Eau Claire's Lynn Morris had the top all-around performance with a score of 36.925 at the NCGA West Regional on February 19 at the McPhee Physical Education Center.

The Eagles earned the victory decisively as runner-up Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) finished with a team score of 182.500. Hamline (Minn.) earned third place with a score of 180.825, while UW-Eau Claire claimed fourth place with a score of 179.850. UW-Oshkosh claimed fifth place with 177.425, UW-Whitewater took sixth with 175.200 and UW-Stout rounded out the bunch with a team score of 173.075.

A variety of individuals helped UW-La Crosse to the title, including Ashley Koechel who earned first place in the uneven bars (9.375) and claimed fourth place in the all-around competition (36.650). The Eagles' Michelle Sletten took third place on the bars (9.275). UW-La Crosse dominated the balance beam event, taking four out of the top five places. Jennifer Houle won the event (9.650), while Angela Erato took second (9.450) and Ann Fitzsimmons and Nancy Petersen tied for fourth (9.275). The only non-Eagle to earn a top-five finish in the event was Eau Claire's Morris, who earned third place (9.400).

Morris was the top all-around performer at the West Regional, claiming first place with a score of 36.925. Morris placed in the top seven in three of the four events. Teammate Alison Eagles earned second in the all-around with a score of 36.875. Gustavus' Amanda Parker claimed third in the all-around (36.750), ending her two-year reign as all-around champion.

Alyssa Cox of Gustavus earned the vault title with a score of 9.550, while the floor exercise title went to UW-Stout's Rhian Paulson, who won the event with a score of 9.525.

The NCGA will conclude its season on April 2-3 with the national championship in Cambridge, Mass. The top four teams from each regional advance, while individual competitors will find out early next week if they advance to the national championships.

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UW-La Crosse's Erato Named Women's Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete

RELEASED: Monday, March 8, 2004

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Angela Erato has been named the 2004 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women's Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Erato, a senior from Brookfield, Wis. (Pius XI H.S.), is majoring in art with a minor in English and psychology and maintains a 3.72 grade point average. She rank's in the top 15 percent of her class at UW-La Crosse and has been recognized on her institution's Dean's List six semesters. Erato is also a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll.

Erato helped the Eagles to their eighth consecutive league title this season by placing third in the floor exercise to earn her sixth career All-WIAC honor. She claimed the conference uneven bars crown a year ago and the floor exercise title in 2002. Erato has been a member of three National College Gymnastics Association (NCGA) national championship teams and claimed the individual national title in the balance beam in 2001 to add to her seven career top 10 finishes at nationals.

Erato is a member of the UW-La Crosse Winners' Council and has served as a volunteer with Girl Scouts, Kids Night Out, Soles for Souls and campus clean-up.

Erato becomes the 10th gymnast in UW-La Crosse history to win the league's scholar-athlete award, joining Jenny Moore (2002), Carol Sheker (2001), Kristie Pullis (1999), Kari Livingston (1996), Laura Pastore (1995), Tammy Bakeberg (1994), Kimberly MacKrille (1991), Susie Milts (1990) and Kris Robbins (1988).

Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were: UW-Eau Claire's Kelly Settle, UW-La Crosse's Kimberly Klopfer, Nancy Petersen and Jennifer Struve, UW-Oshkosh's Wendy Wiederholt and UW-Whitewater's Ann Kingsnorth.

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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La Crosse, Wis.--The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse earned its eighth straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's gymnastics championship in UW-La Crosse's Mitchell Hall on March 5. The Eagles scored 186.700 team points in the five-team competition. UW-Eau Claire finished second (181.550), followed by UW-Oshkosh (176.500), UW-Whitewater (174.175) and UW-Stout (171.725).

UW-La Crosse set a conference championship and Mitchell Hall record with its team score of 186.700. The eight team titles are the longest streak in the conference since UW-Oshkosh won nine consecutive league crowns from 1979-87.

UW-La Crosse's Ashley Koechel finished first in the all-around with a conference championship score of 37.350. UW-Eau Claire took the next three places in the all-around competition. Lynn Morris was second (37.275), followed by Alison Eagles (36.425) and Chelsea Romportl (36.025). Justine Russell of UW-Oshkosh was fifth (35.925), while Ann Kingsnorth of UW-Whitewater placed sixth (35.725).

UW-La Crosse took the top-four places on the uneven bars and floor exercise.

UW-La Crosse's Nina Schubert captured the uneven bars title with a WIAC Championship and Mitchell Hall record score of 9.675. Darlene Benedetti was second (9.475) on the uneven bars, followed by Michelle Sletten (9.425) and Koechel (9.300). Morris (9.100) and Eagles (9.050) finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

On the floor exercise, UW-La Crosse's Jennifer Houle and Nancy Petersen tied for the individual championship with scores of 9.550. The Eagles' Angela Erato was third (9.450), while Koechel placed fourth (9.425). UW-Stout's Rhian Paulson finished fifth (9.400), while Lauren Mareno of UW-Oshkosh, Eagles of UW-Eau Claire and Ashley Giles of UW-La Crosse tied for sixth (9.375).

Eagles won the vault title for the second straight season with a league meet and Mitchell Hall record score of 9.650, while UW-La Crosse's Melissa Marsack was second with 9.600. UW-La Crosse's Katie Krenz finished third (9.525), followed by Morris (9.475), Petersen (9.400) and Paulson (9.325).

Houle secured the balance beam with a score of 9.500 with Morris second (9.450) and Koechel third (9.350). Russell finished fourth (9.325), followed by Giles (9.200) and Megan Finnegan of UW-Whitewater (9.150).

The top six finishers in the four events and the all-around competition received All-WIAC accolades.

UW-La Crosse head coach Barbara Gibson was voted the league's Coach of the Year for the sixth time in her career (1997, 1994, 1993, 1990, 1988). She has guided the Eagles to 12 conference titles in 19 seasons.

Team Scores:
1. UW-La Crosse 186.700
2. UW-Eau Claire 181.550
3. UW-Oshkosh 176.500
4. UW-Whitewater 174.125
5. UW-Stout 171.725

Individual Event Champions:
Vault: Alison Eagles (UW-Eau Claire), 9.650
Uneven Bars: Nina Schubert (UW-La Crosse), 9.675
Balance Beam: Jennifer Houle (UW-La Crosse), 9.500
Floor Exercise: Jennifer Houle (UW-La Crosse) and Nancy Petersen (UW-La Crosse), 9.550
All-Around: Ashley Koechel (UW-La Crosse), 37.350

Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete: Angela Erato of UW-La Crosse
Coach of the Year: Barb Gibson of UW-La Crosse

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DeLisle Named UW-Eau Claire Head Gymnastics Coach

RELEASED: Monday, September 15, 2003

Eau Claire, Wis.--Jean DeLisle, formerly the head gymnastics coach at UW-River Falls, has been named the head gymnastics coach at UW-Eau Claire, it was announced by interim Athletic Director Tim Petermann.

DeLisle is a graduate of UW-River Falls where she received her bachelor's degree in physical education in 1987.

Prior to Eau Claire DeLisle was the head gymnastics coach at UW-River Falls from 1992-2002. During that team DeLisle coached the Falcons to two second places finishes at the WIAC Gymnastics Championships in 1993 and 2002. The Falcons qualified for the NCGA Championships as a team both of those seasons. Individually DeLisle coached five conference champions and nine All-Americans including national champion Merilee Healy on the balance beam in 1995.

DeLisle takes over a Blugold program that is coming off a record-breaking year in 2002-03. Last season the Blugolds broke the 180-point plateau for the first time in school history, finishing second at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championships and fifth at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) championships. Junior Alison Hover was the school's first-ever all-around conference champion and sophomore Lynn Morris became the school's second individual national champion when she accomplished the feat on the balance beam.

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