2007-08 WIAC Women's Gymnastics Season Headlines

Four Secure Academic All-America Women’s At-Large Accolades

RELEASED:  Monday, June 16, 2008

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Alison Lewis and Winona State University's (Minn.) Alexandra Nugent have been named to the 2008 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America College Division Women’s At-Large Team. Lewis was a first team selection, while Nugent secured second team recognition.

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), while being sponsored by ESPN The Magazine.  Eligible sports are bowling, crew, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis and water polo.

Lewis, a senior gymnast from Racine, Wis. (Horlick), was a second team selection a year ago and becomes the first WIAC gymnast to earn Academic All-America status in back-to-back years.  She sustains a 4.00 grade point average and is majoring in biology and chemistry.  Lewis is one of six individuals on the first team to maintain a perfect 4.00 grade point average.

Nugent, a junior gymnast from Sheboygan, Wis., is majoring in education and Spanish and carries a 3.94 grade point average.  She is the second Warrior gymnast to claim Academic All-America recognition, joining Kassy Kroening who was a third team honoree in 2000.

Four Claim Women’s Academic All-District Accolades

RELEASED:  Thursday, May 29, 2008

Madison, Wis.--Four Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) individuals have been named to the 2008 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Five College Division Women’s At-Large Team. 

UW-Whitewater’s Alison Lewis was a first team pick, while UW-Oshkosh's Vanessa Virbitsky and UW-La Crosse’s Kasey Clausen were second team selections.

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).  Eligible sports are bowling, crew, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis and water polo.

Lewis, a senior gymnast from Racine, Wis. (Horlick H.S.), secured first team status for the second consecutive year.  She sustains a 4.00 grade point average and is majoring in biology and chemistry.

George and Lewis are eligible for the Academic All-America Team that will be announced June 12.
 
A senior gymnast from Harrisburg, Pa. (Central Dauphin H.S.), Virbitsky maintains a 3.61 grade point average and is double-majoring in political science and journalism.   She was named the WIAC scholar-athlete during the 2008 campaign.

Clausen, a senior gymnast from Apple Valley, Minn., is majoring in secondary education and carries a 3.59 grade point average.  She claimed the conference’s scholar-athlete award this season.

Warhawks Claim Women's Gymnastics Honors

RELEASED:  Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Madison, Wis.--The National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women has named the 2008 NCAA Division III North Central Region winners.  It named UW-Whitewater head coach Jennifer White Regional Head Coach of the Year, assistant coach Ryan Bendixen Regional Assistant Coach of the Year and Athletics Director Paul Plinske Regional Administrator of the Year.

UW-Whitewater finished second at the 2008 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship and finished fifth at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championship.

The Warhawks broke school individual records in the vault, balance beam and all-around competitions.  As a team, UW-Whitewater set the top five records for total team scores for events with five scores.  Also, the Warhawks posted the top team scores in school history in the vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise.

UW-La Crosse Wins NCGA Championship

RELEASED:  Saturday, March 29, 2008

Brockport, N.Y.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse won its seventh National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championship in the last eight seasons during team competition held on March 28 in Cory Gymnasium in the Park Center on the campus of SUNY-Cortland.

The Eagles won the 12th national title in program history after compiling 189.050 team points to surpass the second-place total of 188.425 set by SUNY-Brockport.  SUNY-Cortland took third with 188.375 points, Ursinus College (Pa.) fourth with 188.050, UW-Whitewater fifth with 187.200 and Winona State University (Minn.) sixth with 185.625.

UW-La Crosse head coach Barb Gibson was named the NCGA Co-Coach of the Year along with Jeff Schepers of Ursinus College (Pa.).

During individual competition on March 29, UW-La Crosse’s Gabi Hooper and UW-Whitewater’s Justine Weyer shared top honors in the vault with a score of 9.675.

Hooper secured the third vault national crown in program history, while Weyer is UW-Whitewater’s first individual event national champion since 2000 when Nicole Hoida claimed the balance beam. 

UW-Stout’s Naomi Delara won the balance beam title with a score of 9.800 to become the school’s first individual event national champion.

The NCGA also announced a 38-member All-Academic Team for the 2008 season.  Individuals from the WIAC receiving recognition included:  UW-Eau Claire’s Kristi Olson, UW-La Crosse’s Kasey Clausen and Jacqueline Schellinger, UW-Oshkosh’s Vanessa Virbitsky, UW-Whitewater’s Kira Fedyniak, Alison Lewis and Rachel Paney, Gustavus Adolphus’ Danielle Berg, Kelsie Droogsma and Kasey Lyng and Hamline’s Missy Gamble.

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:  Justine Weyer (UW-Whitewater-Champion), Gabi Hooper (UW-La Crosse-Champion), Alexandra Nugent (Winona State-Third), Jackie LaFleur (UW-La Crosse-Sixth), Allison Nelson (UW-Whitewater-12th)

Uneven Bars:  Kasey Clausen (UW-La Crosse-Second), Justine Weyer (UW-Whitewater-Third), Danielle Crinzi (UW-Whitewater-Seventh), Kelly Busacker (UW-Oshkosh-12th)

Balance Beam:  Naomi Delara (UW-Stout-Champion), Gabi Hooper (UW-La Crosse-Second), Alexandra Nugent (Winona State-Third), Mackenzie Howard (UW-La Crosse-Third), Melissa Baudhuim (Winona State-Fifth), Meghan Hargens (UW-Stout-Seventh), Eileen Strube (Winona State-Eighth), Kasey Clausen (UW-La Crosse-11th), Brynn Stenslie (Hamline-12th)

Floor Exercise:  Sarah Prosen (Hamline-Sixth), Ashley Timm (UW-Stout-Seventh), Alexandra Nugent (Winona State-11th)

All-Around:  Justine Weyer (UW-Whitewater-Fifth), Alexandra Nugent (Winona State-Seventh), Mackenzie Howard (UW-La Crosse-10th), Meghan Hargens (UW-Stout-10th)

UW-La Crosse’s Clausen and UW-Oshkosh’s Virbitsky Named Women’s Gymnastics Co-Scholar-Athletes

RELEASED:  Monday, March 10, 2008

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Kasey Clausen and UW-Oshkosh’s Vanessa Virbitsky have been named 2008 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women’s Gymnastics Co-Scholar-Athletes.

Clausen, a senior from Apple Valley, Minn., is majoring in secondary education with a minor in political science and economics and carries a 3.59 grade point average.  She is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and has been recognized on UW-La Crosse’s Dean’s List every semester. 

A two-year team captain, Clausen is a three-time All-WIAC performer and has earned her team’s Most Dedicated Award the last two seasons.  She claimed All-America honors in the vault, uneven bars and all-around in 2005 and was a member of UW-La Crosse’s back-to-back national championship teams in 2005 and 2006.

Clausen is a member of the National Educator’s Association and Amnesty International USA.  In addition, she has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Girl Scouts, Food Shelf and UW-La Crosse’s Peer Run Education Program.

Virbitsky, a senior from Harrisburg, Pa. (Central Dauphin H.S.), maintains a 3.61 grade point average and is double-majoring in political science and journalism.   She has been recognized on her institutions Dean’s List and Honor Roll and is a three-time selection to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll.

A two-year team captain, Virbitsky is a four-time All-WIAC recipient.  She was a member of UW-Oshkosh’s national championship team last season and is a four-time All-American, including the 2007 national champion in the vault.

She is a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America and has served a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and the American Cancer Society.  Virbitsky has worked as an assistant in UW-Oshkosh’s Sports Information Office and as a reporter in the school newspaper.

Also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete award were:  UW-Eau Claire’s Kristi Olson (Sr., Minnetonka, Minn.) and Staci Solin (Jr., Chippewa Falls, Wis./Chi-Hi), UW-La Crosse’s Jacqueline Schellinger (Sr., Fennimore, Wis.), UW-Whitewater’s Alison Lewis (Sr., Racine, Wis./Horlick), Gustavus Adolphus’ Danielle Berg (Sr., St. Cloud, Minn.) and Kelsie Droogsma (Sr., Elk River, Minn.).

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.

UW-Whitewater’s White Claims Women’s Gymnastics Coach of the Year Honor

RELEASED:  Monday, March 10, 2008

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater head coach Jennifer White has been named the 2008 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Gymnastics Coach of the Year, based on a vote of the league coaches.

White, in her sixth season with the Warhawks, directed the squad to second-place finish at this year’s WIAC championship/National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) West Regional.  UW-Whitewater also earned a spot in this year’s NCGA Championship.

Eagles Soar at Women’s Gymnastics Championship

RELEASED:  Saturday, March 8, 2008

St. Paul, Minn.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s women’s gymnastics team secured its 12th straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championship and sixth consecutive National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) West Regional title at Hutton Arena on the campus of Hamline University (Minn.) on March 8.

The Eagles totaled 186.200 team points to win the 19th WIAC trophy in program history.  UW-Whitewater placed second with 186.025 points, followed by Winona State University (Minn.) in third with 183.225, UW-Eau Claire fourth with 179.750, UW-Stout fifth with 178.925, UW-Oshkosh sixth with 178.250, Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) seventh with 176.750 and Hamline University eighth with 174.950.

UW-La Crosse, UW-Whitewater and Winona State advance to the NCGA Championships in Cortland, N.Y. on March 28-29.

UW-Whitewater’s Justine Weyer dominated the competition, winning four of the five individual events, while UW-La Crosse’s Gabi Hooper claimed the balance beam title.

Hooper won the balance beam with a score of 9.625.   Weyer placed second (9.600), while UW-La Crosse’s Kelsey Matula was third (9.575), UW-Whitewater’s Ginelle Galub was fourth (9.550) and Hamline’s Brynn Stenslie and UW-Whitewater’s Ashley George tied for fifth (9.500).

Weyer captured the vault with a mark of 9.600 to surpass the second-place mark of 9.550 set by UW-Oshkosh’s Vanessa Virbitsky.  Winona State’s Alexandra Nugent and UW-La Crosse’s Gabi Hooper tied for third (9.500), while UW-Whitewater’s Allison Nelson and Danielle Crinzi tied for fifth (9.450).

In the uneven bars, Weyer set the pace with a first-place score of 9.575.  UW-La Crosse’s Jackie LaFleur placed second (9.500), UW-Oshkosh’s Brynn Dorsey was third (9.450), Winona State’s Amanda Cotter and Katie Gregory tied for fourth (9.400) and UW-La Crosse’s Kasey Clausen finished sixth (9.350).

In the floor exercise, Weyer placed first with a score of 9.650 to exceed Crinzi’s second-place mark of 9.600.  UW-Stout’s Meghan Hargens finished third (9.575), Hamline’s Kristen Weniger was fourth (9.550) and Winona State’s Melissa Baudhuin and UW-La Crosse’s LaFleur tied for fifth (9.500).

Weyer won the all-around with a WIAC championship and NCGA West Regional record score of 38.425.  UW-Whitewater’s Crinzi finished second (37.750), UW-La Crosse’s LaFleur third (37.400), UW-La Crosse’s Erin Sommer fourth (37.075), UW-Stout’s Ashley Timm fifth (36.850) and UW-Stout’s Hargens sixth (36.800).

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

UW-Whitewater’s Jennifer White was selected the Coach of the Year, while UW-La Crosse’s Kasey Clausen and UW-Oshkosh’s Vanessa Virbitsky were named Judy Kruckman Co-Scholar-Athletes.

Back to the WIAC home page