2006-07 WIAC Women's Gymnastics Season Headlines

Walsh Named Head Gymnastics Coach at Ball State University

RELEASED: Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Oshkosh, Wis.--Nadalie Walsh, who guided the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh to the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) title last March, has been named the fifth head women's gymnastics coach in Ball State University (Ind.) history.

Walsh replaces Lisa Simonton, who resigned from her position in April after coaching the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Cardinals for two seasons. Last March, Ball State University placed fourth at the seven-team Mid-American Conference Championship.

Walsh, 28, spent the last four seasons as UW-Oshkosh's head coach. Her 2007 squad scored 185.575 points to win the NCGA title and tallied 182.675 points to finish second at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championship.

In 2006, Walsh received NCGA and WIAC Coach of the Year accolades after leading UW-Oshkosh to third-place finishes at both the NCGA and WIAC championships. In 2005, she was voted WIAC Coach of the Year after guiding UW-Oshkosh to a third-place finish at the WIAC Championship and a sixth-place finish at the NCGA Championship. In 2004, Walsh coached the Titans to a third-place ranking at the WIAC Championship.

UW-Oshkosh broke numerous school records during Walsh's tenure as head coach, including all five in the team category. In 2005, UW-Oshkosh set six records, including a team mark of 187.95 at a triangular hosted by NCAA Division I Bowling Green State University (Ohio).

Walsh coached two NCGA champions and five athletes to a total of 13 NCGA All-America awards at UW-Oshkosh. She also tutored six NCGA Academic All-Americans.

Prior to being named UW-Oshkosh's sixth head women's gymnastics coach, Walsh served as an assistant coach at UW-Oshkosh from 2001 to 2003. In 2001, the Titans finished second at both the WIAC and NCGA championships.

Walsh, a 2000 UW-Oshkosh graduate and a former gymnast for the Titans is a Kewaskum, Wis., native. Walsh and her husband, Victor, have three children, Aiden, Ireland and Valient.

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UW-La Crosse's Krenz and UW-Whitewater's Lewis Named to Academic All-America Women’s At-Large Team

RELEASED: Monday, June 18, 2007

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Katie Krenz and UW-Whitewater's Alison Lewis have been named to the 2007 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America College Division Women’s At-Large Team. Lewis was a second team selection, while Krenz was a third team pick.

The team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA student-athletes throughout the country and is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). It includes the sports of bowling, crew, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis and water polo.

A native of Alexandria, Minn., Bard is majoring in biology (pre-med) and boasts a 4.00 grade point average. She earned the WIAC Judy Kruckman Women’s Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete award this season and claimed All-America honors in four relay events at the national championship. Bard was also a member of the winning 400-yard freestyle relay team at the conference meet and holds the league record in the 200-yard medley and 200-yard freestyle relays.

Lewis, a junior from Racine, Wis. (Horlick H.S.), is a member of the gymnastics team and is majoring in biological sciences, while maintaining a 4.00 grade point average. She has received numerous academic scholarships from her institution and owns the 11th, 13th and 24th highest individual floor exercise scores in the Warhawk record book.

Krenz, a senior from Plano, Texas (West H.S.), carries a 3.91 grade point average and is majoring in sociology. She was named the WIAC Judy Kruckman Women’s Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete this year and finished second on the uneven bars at the conference championship.

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Gustavus Adolphus’ Gergen Receives NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

RELEASED: Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Madison, Wis.--Gustavus Adolphus College student-athlete Nicole Gergen has been selected as one of 58 student-athletes from across the country to receive a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship for the winter sport season in the amount of $7,500.

Gergen is the 21st Gustavus student-athlete to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship in the history of the program.

Gergen, a native of Hastings, Minn., finished 11th on the balance beam and 29th on the floor exercise at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championships in March, earning Second Team All-America honors on the beam. A three-time qualifier for the NCGA Division III Championships on both the balance beam and floor exercise, Gergen finished eighth on the floor at the 2005 national meet and recorded the fourth highest floor exercise score in school history with a 9.75 at the 2004 national meet. She was also recognized three times on the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Scholastic Honor Roll. A chemistry major with a history minor enrolled in the pre-medicine program at Gustavus, Gergen has compiled a 3.81 cumulative grade point average. She will attend medical school next fall at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

In addition to her activities in the gymnastics studio, Gergen has been active in the community working as a Gustie Greeter. She is a member of Alpha Phi Omega, a national service organization, as well as the Student Athlete Advisory Board, Gustavus Chemistry Board, and Beta Beta Beta (biology honor society). She also helped to restart the Gustavus College Republicans, where she is active in voter registration and civic engagement.

The NCAA awarded 58 postgraduate scholarships of $7,500 each to 29 male student-athletes and 29 female student-athletes from all three divisions (I, II, and III) who participated in winter sports. Those sports included men's and women's basketball, men's and women's fencing, men's and women's gymnastics, men's and women's ice hockey, men's and women's rifle, men's and women's skiing, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's indoor track and field, women's archery, women's bowling, women's squash, women's team handball, and men's wrestling.

To qualify for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, a student-athlete must have an overall grade-point average of 3.200 (on a 4.000 scale) or its equivalent and must have performed with distinction as a member of the varsity team in the sport in which the student-athlete was nominated. The student-athlete also must intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a graduate student.

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Three Named to Women’s Academic All-District At-Large Team

RELEASED: Thursday, May 24, 2007

Madison, Wis.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2007 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Five College Division Women’s At-Large First Team. UW-La Crosse’s Katie Krenz, UW-Whitewater’s Alison Lewis and Gustavus Adolphus' Nicole Gergen were recognized for their achievements.

The 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 bowling, crew, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis and water polo.

Lewis, a junior from Racine, Wis. (Horlick H.S.), is a member of the gymnastics team and is majoring in biological sciences and maintains a 4.00 grade point average. She has received numerous scholarships from her institution and owns the 11th, 13th and 24th highest individual floor exercise scores in the Warhawk record book.

Gergen, a senior from Hastings, Minn., boasts a 3.81 grade point average and is majoring in chemistry (pre-med). She finished 11th on the balance beam at the national championship this year after placing eighth in the floor exercise in 2005.

All three individuals are eligible for the Academic All-America team, which will be announced on June 14.

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UW-Oshkosh Claims NCGA Championship

RELEASED: Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Whitewater, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh claimed the 2007 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) championship at UW-Whitewater’s Kachel Gymnasium on March 23.

The win by UW-Oshkosh ended a string of six consecutive titles for UW-La Crosse. The Titans edged Ursinus College (Pa.) by one tenth of a point, 185.575-185.475 in the second tightest finish since the NCGA’s first championship in 1984. UW-La Crosse and Winona State (Minn.) were separated by just .075 in the 1995 championship. UW-Oshkosh also won the NCGA title in 1989.

UW-Oshkosh and Ursinus were followed by UW-La Crosse in third with 183.350, UW-Whitewater in fourth with 182.975, Hamline University (Minn.) in fifth with 182.575, SUNY-Brockport in sixth with 181.500, Ithaca College (N.Y.) in seventh with 179.200 and Springfield College (Mass.) in eighth with 101.600.

Julia Zimmerman of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology won the individual all-around title with a score of 38.175. Other honorees, in order, were UW-Oshkosh’s Teresa Phipps (38.050), UW-Whitewater’s Danielle Crinzi (37.925), UW-Stout’s Meghan Hargens (37.625), SUNY-Brockport’s Sarah Bulka (37.450), Springfield’s Audrey Lastra (37.375), UW-Whitewater’s Ashley George (37.275), UW-Oshkosh’s Vanessa Virbitsky (37.200) and Ursinus’ Jessica Furman and SUNY-Brockport’s Lauren Gildemeyer (37.050).

During individual competition held during the second day of the national event (March 24), UW-La Crosse’s Jackie LaFleur and Gabi Hooper and UW-Oshkosh’s Virbitsky shared the national title in the vault with a winning mark of 9.525. The Titans’ Phipps tied for fifth (9.475), while the Eagles’ Erin Sommer was ninth (9.400).

Phipps won the national crown in the uneven bars with a score of 9.600, while UW-La Crosse’s Fitzsimmons was third (9.500), UW-Oshkosh’s Amy Reidy was seventh (9.300) and UW-Whitewater’s George was 12th (9.125).

In the balance beam, Winona State’s Eileen Strube placed second with a mark of 9.575, while UW-Oshkosh’s Phipps was fourth (9.500), UW-Stout’s Ashley Timm was fifth (9.450), UW-La Crosse’s Sommer was seventh (9.400) and UW-Whitewater’s Crinzi (9.350) and George (9.325) were eighth and ninth, respectively. UW-Eau Claire’s Theresa Lynch finished 10th (9.125), Gustavus Adolphus’ Nicole Gergen was 11th (8.900) and UW-Oshkosh’s Virbitsky was 12th (8.625).

UW-La Crosse’s Hooper secured a second-place finish on the floor exercise with a 9.650, while UW-Whitewater’s Crinzi tied for third (9.500). UW-La Crosse’s Mackenzie Howard was fifth (9.475), UW-Stout’s Hargens was 10th (9.350) and UW-Oshkosh’s Rachel Morrison was 12th (8.825).

The NCGA also announced a 38-member All-Academic Team for the 2007 season. Individuals from the WIAC receiving recognition included Gustavus Adolphus’ Gretchen Blomme, Nicole Gergen, Stephanie Anne Gerglund, Stephanie Lovik and Dana Ryerson, Hamline’s Catherine Ague, Kathryn Davis, Elizabeth Garritsen, Caitlin Goodin and Carly Thompson, UW-Eau Claire’s Ashley Brett and Andrea Rude, UW-La Crosse’s Ann Fitzsimmons, Kaitlin Haack, Katie Krenz and Michelle Sletten, UW-Oshkosh’s Teresa Baldassari, Kim Edson and Melissa Riley and UW-Whitewater’s Kristin Ross.

The top 10 individuals in the all-around competition secured NCGA All-America status, while competitors placing in the top six in the individual events were named All-America First Team and individuals finishing seven through 12 received All-America Second Team status.

WIAC All-Americans:

Vault: Vanessa Virbitsky (UW-Oshkosh-champion), Jackie LaFleur (UW-La Crosse-champion), Gabi Hooper (UW-La Crosse-champion), Teresa Phipps (UW-Oshkosh-fifth), Erin Sommer (UW-La Crosse-ninth)

Uneven Bars: Teresa Phipps (UW-Oshkosh-champion), Ann Fitzsimmons (UW-La Crosse-third), Amy Reidy (UW-Oshkosh-seventh), Ashley George (UW-Whitewater-12th)

Balance Beam: Eileen Strube (Winona State-second), Teresa Phipps (UW-Oshkosh-fourth), Ashley Timm (UW-Stout-fifth), Erin Sommer (UW-La Crosse-seventh), Danielle Crinzi (UW-Whitewater-eighth), Ashley George (UW-Whitewater-ninth), Theresa Lynch (UW-Eau Claire-10th), Nicole Gergen (Gustavus Adolphus-11th), Vanessa Virbitsky (UW-Oshkosh-12th)

Floor Exercise: Gabi Hooper (UW-La Crosse-second), Danielle Crinzi (UW-Whitewater-third), Mackenzie Howard (UW-La Crosse-fifth), Meghan Hargens (UW-Stout-10th), Rachel Morrison (UW-Oshkosh-12th)

All-Around: Teresa Phipps (UW-Oshkosh-second), Danielle Crinzi (UW-Whitewater-third), Meghan Hargens (UW-Stout-fourth), Ashley George (UW-Whitewater-seventh), Vanessa Virbitsky (UW-Oshkosh-eighth).

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UW-La Crosse’s Krenz Named Women’s Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete

RELEASED: Friday, March 9, 2007

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Katie Krenz has been named the 2007 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women’s Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete.

A senior from Plano, Texas (West H.S.), Krenz boasts a 3.91 grade point average, while majoring in sociology with minors in criminal justice and German. She is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and has been named to UW-La Crosse’s Dean’s List seven semesters.

Krenz helped the Eagles to their 11th straight WIAC championship this year, placing second in uneven bars. She finished first in the event during the 2005 conference meet and earned a second-place finish in the vault and third-place standing in the floor exercise. In 2005, Krenz also won the West Region title in the uneven bars and secured All-America honors in the floor exercise with a fifth-place finish at the national meet. In 2004, she earned All-America status in the uneven bars with a fourth-place performance.

Krenz is a member of the National Key Honors Society, Sociology Honors Society and the German Honors Society. She has been a representative on UW-La Crosse’s Winners Council and served as secretary of the German Club.

UW-La Crosse has now had 12 individuals secure conference’s women’s gymnastics scholar-athlete award.

Also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete plaque were UW-Eau Claire’s Ashley Brett (Sr., Lake Forest, Minn.) and Andrea Rude (Sr., Onalaska, Wis.), UW-La Crosse’s Ann Fitzsimmons (Sr., Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran), Kaitlin Haack (Sr., Worthington, Minn.) and Michelle Sletten (Sr., Madison, Wis./Verona), UW-Oshkosh’s Melissa Riley (Sr., Hutchinson, Kan.), Teresa Baldassari (Sr., Santa Rosa, Calif./Maria Carrillo), Gustavus Adolphus’ Nicole Gergen (Sr., Hastings, Minn.) and Hamline’s Catherine Auge (Sr., Red Wing, Minn.), Kathryn Davis (Sr., North Bend, Ore.), Elizabeth Garritsen (Sr., Forest Lake, Minn.), Caitlin Goodin (Sr., Steilacoom, Wash./Life Christian Academy) and Carly Thompson (Sr., Gig Harbor, Wash.).

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Judy Kruckman and sponsored by Hewlett-Packard. Kruckman served as Assistant Commissioner for the WIAC from 1996-98. Prior to this appointment, she functioned as Commissioner of the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from October, 1984 - September, 1996.

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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Hamline’s Byrnes Named Women’s Gymnastics Coach of the Year

RELEASED: Friday, March 9, 2007

Madison, Wis.--Hamline University (Minn.) head women’s gymnastics coach Doug Byrnes has been named the 2007 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Coach of the Year based on vote by the league coaches.

Byrnes earned the award for the second time in his career (2005) after directing the Pipers to a third-place finish at the WIAC championships. The third-place finish is the best in school history and also earned Hamline a spot in the National Collegeiate Gymnastics Association championships on March 23 at UW-Whitewater.

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UW-La Crosse Wins 11th Straight Women’s Gymnastics Championship

RELEASED: Thursday, March 8, 2007

La Crosse, Wis.--The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women’s gymnastics team won its 11th straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championship and fifth consecutive National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) West Regional on March 8 in Mitchell Hall.

The Eagles scored a conference and regional meet record 187.700 points enroute to the 18th conference title in program history. UW-Oshkosh finished second with 182.675 and Hamline University (Minn.) placed third with 180.975. UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh and Hamline advance to the NCGA Championships March 23 at UW-Whitewater.

UW-Whitewater placed fourth (180.200) at the WIAC/West Region meet, while UW-Eau Claire and Winona State University (Minn.) tied for fifth (177.675). Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) finished seventh (177.050) and UW-Stout placed eighth (176.650).

Gabi Hooper captured the vault for UW-La Crosse with a NCGA West Regional record score of 9.675. Jackie LaFleur of UW-La Crosse, Brittany Moore of Gustavus Adolphus, Teresa Phipps of UW-Oshkosh and Danielle Crinzi of UW-Whitewater all tied for second with a score of 9.550. Hamline's Katie Davis and Alex Hughes, along with UW-Eau Claire's Anna Sutherland tied for sixth (9.500).

Phipps won the uneven bars with a regional record score of 9.600, while Katie Krenz of UW-La Crosse was second at 9.525. Ann Fitzsimmons of UW-La Crosse placed third (9.400) with Crinzi finishing fourth (9.325), UW-La Crosse's Kasey Clausen fifth (9.300) and Hamline's Kristen Weniger sixth (9.275).

UW-La Crosse's Erin Sommer took the balance beam crown with a score of 9.525, while Hooper was second at 9.500. Theresa Lynch of UW-Eau Claire finished third (9.450) with Brynn Stenslie of Hamline fourth (9.375). UW-La Crosse's Fitzsimmons and Winona State's Alexandra Nugent tied for fifth (9.350).

Hooper also secured the floor exercise for UW-La Crosse, tying the regional record with a 9.725. UW-La Crosse's Kelsey Matula finished second (9.575) and the Eagles' Mackenzie Howard tied for third (9.550) with Crinzi. UW-Stout's Meghan Hargens placed fifth (9.500), while UW-Oshkosh's Rachel Morrison and Phipps tied for sixth (9.475).

Phipps set a WIAC and West Regional record in winning the all-around at 37.875. Crinzi was second (37.225) with Hargens third (36.950), Nugent fourth (36.900), Weniger fifth (36.775) and UW-Whitewater's Ashley George sixth (36.500).

The top-six individuals in each event earn All-WIAC honors.

Hamline's Doug Byrnes was selected the WIAC Coach of the Year for the second time in his career (2005), while UW-La Crosse's Katie Krenz was named the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete.

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