2005-06 WIAC Women's Gymnastics
Athletes of the Week

Week of Feb. 20 - 26
Danielle Crinzi, Freshman (New Berlin/Eisenhower), of UW-Whitewater
Crinzi took first place in three events in a 176.800-169.950 dual meet victory over UW-Stout on February 24. She finished first in the vault (9.350), the uneven bars (9.150) and the all-around (36.775). Crinzi also placed second in the floor exercise (9.275) and third in the balance beam (9.000).

Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Schaelyn McFadden, Freshman, New Berlin (Catholic Memorial)
UW-Oshkosh, Vanessa Virbitsky, Sophomore, Harrisburg, Pa. (Central Dauphin)
UW-Stout, Ashley Timm, Sophomore, Eden Prairie, Minn.
Winona State, Alexandra Nugent, Freshman, Sheboygan
Gustavus Adolphus, Christine Askham, Freshman, Arvada, Colo. (West)

Week of Feb. 13 - 19
Vanessa Virbitsky, Sophomore (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), of UW-Oshkosh
Virbitsky won two events and placed fifth in another as UW-Oshkosh defeated UW-Stout, 181.675-168.450, on February 17. She posted scores of 9.525 to win the floor exercise and 8.975 to win the vault. Virbitsky finished fifth on the uneven bars with a score of 9.000. UW-Oshkosh's team score was its highest of the season.

Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Jenna Houle, Senior, Forest Lake, Minn.
UW-Stout, Rhian Paulson, Senior, Stillwater, Minn.
UW-Whitewater, Danielle Crinzi, Freshman, New Berlin (Eisenhower)
Hamline, Brynn Stenslie, Freshman, Renton, Wash. (Hazen)

Week of Feb. 6 - 12
Mackenzie Howard, Freshman (Hales Corners/Whitnall), of UW-La Crosse
Howard captured the all-around (37.575) in UW-La Crosse's 182.275-178.000 dual victory at UW-Whitewater on February 10. She also won the vault (9.500) and balance beam (9.600), while finishing second on the floor exercise (9.575) and fourth on the uneven parallel bars (8.900).

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Melanie Nichols, Senior, Galesville (G-E-T)
UW-Oshkosh, Kelly Busacker, Freshman, Lake Vista, Neb. (Papillion LaVista)
UW-Stout, Rhian Paulson, Senior, Stillwater, Minn.
UW-Whitewater, Tracy Cummings, Junior, Lake Geneva
Gustavus Adolphus, Brittany Moore, Junior, Plymouth, Minn. (St. Louis Park)
Hamline, Renae Stinar, Senior, Cannon Falls, Minn.
Winona State, Eileen Strube, Freshman, Lemont, Ill.



Week of Jan. 30 - Feb. 5
Lynn Morris, Senior (Monticello, Ind./Twin Lakes), of UW-Eau Claire
Morris was the top all-around performer scoring a 36.275 at the four-team Gershon/McClellan Invitational on February 3. She placed second in the beam (9.275), fourth on the bars (8.975), fourth on the floor exercise (8.825) and seventh on the vault (9.200). The Blugolds finished second as a team with 175.400 points.

Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Nina Schubert, Senior, Kreischa, Germany
UW-Oshkosh, Brianna Lentz, Senior, West Allis (Central)
UW-Stout, Kori Zieminski, Freshman, Cottage Grove, Minn. (Park)
UW-Whitewater, Rachel Paney, Sophomore, Itasca, Ill. & Dani Crinzi, Freshman, New Berlin (Eisenhower)
Hamline, Caitlin Goodin, Junior, Steilacoom, Wash. (Life Christian Academy)
Winona State, Alexandra Nugent, Freshman, Sheboygan



Week of Jan. 23 - 29
Rhian Paulson, Senior (Stillwater, Minn.), of UW-Stout
Paulson captured three first-place finishes in a 171.600-166.975 dual meet loss to Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) on January 23. She scored a personal best on the vault, tying for the top spot with a 9.350, along with teammate Ashley Timm and Gustavus' Danielle Abel. Paulson took top honors in the floor exercise with a 9.400 and the all-around with a score of 35.550. She also finished fourth on the uneven bars and balance beam with scores of 8.300 and 8.500, respectively.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Jenni Wick, Senior, Sartell, Minn.
UW-La Crosse, Michelle Sletten, Junior, Madison (Verona)
UW-Oshkosh, Kim Edson, Junior, Eastampton, N.J. (Rancocas Valley Regional)
Gustavus Adolphus, Danielle Abel, Senior, Blue Earth, Minn.

Week of Jan. 16 - 22
Alexandra Nugent, Freshman (Sheboygan), of Winona State University
Nugent placed in the top two of three events in a 170.700-170.325 dual meet victory at Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) on January 20. She finished first in the vault with a 9.250, while placing second in the balance beam with a 8.550 and second on the floor exercise with a 8.825.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Lynn Morris, Senior, Monticello, Ind. (Twin Lakes)
UW-La Crosse, Jennifer Houle, Senior, Forest Lake, Minn.
UW-Stout, Rhian Paulson, Senior, Stillwater, Minn.
Hamline, Brynn Stenslie, Freshman, Renton, Wash. (Hazen)

Week of Jan. 9 - 15
Eileen Strube, Freshman (Lemont, Ill.), of Winona State University
Strube won the all-around with a 36.025 and the vault with a 9.250, while finishing second on the uneven bars with an 8.925 in Winona's 176.625-171.175 dual meet victory over UW-Stout on January 13. It was her second collegiate meet and all her results were collegiate bests.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Angie Cich, Sophomore, Plymouth, Minn. (Armstrong)
UW-La Crosse, Jackie LaFleur, Freshman, New Brighton, Minn. (Irondale)
UW-Oshkosh, Brianna Lentz, Senior, West Allis (Central)
UW-Whitewater, Tracy Cummings, Junior, Lake Geneva
UW-Stout, Kelly Claussen, Freshman, Watertown, Minn. (Watertown-Mayer)
Hamline, Kristen Weniger, Freshman, Eagan, Minn. (School of Environmental Studies)



Week of Jan. 2 - 8
Tracy Cummings, Junior (Lake Geneva), of UW-Whitewater
Competing in a season-opening dual meet against Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) on January 7, Cummings won the all-around competition with a score of 34.200, while recording second-place finishes on the balance beam (8.725) and the vault (9.100).

Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Mackenzie Howard, Freshman, Hales Corners (Whitnall)
UW-Oshkosh, Lauren Mareno, Junior, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Elm Grove)
UW-Stout, Shanna Kissinger, Senior, Sioux City, Iowa (West)
Winona State, Eileen Strube, Freshman, Lemont, Ill.
Gustavus Adolphus, Brittany Moore, Junior, Plymouth, Minn. (St. Louis Park) & Laura Hansen, Freshman, Inver Grove Heights, Minn. (Simley)
Hamline, Kristen Weniger, Freshman, Eagan, Minn. (School of Environmental Studies)

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