By Jenny DuPuis

The Warhawks gymnastics team took first at the NCGA National Championship Friday night, with a final score of 143.200.

This marks the second consecutive national championship for the ’Hawks.

WIAC foe UW-Lacrosse came in second place at 139.175. In third place was Brockport State with 147.700 points.
’Hawks assistant coach Allison Annala said that the team went into the meet with a “whatever happens, happens” attitude.

“We are just trying to take it one event at a time,” said Annala on the team’s mindset when entering the meet. “Everyone is behind one another 100 percent.”

That strategy proved to work. Head Coach Jennifer Regan was happy with the results.

“I can’t even begin to describe the amount of excitement I have for them,” Regan said. “I’m just so proud. The girls were pumped up, having a good time and dancing. That’s the most important thing, you know, enjoying the moment, and they definitely did that.”

Senior Siri Wischmann attributed the team’s work ethic to the win.

“We worked so hard all season and it was a great end to my senior year,” Wischmann said. “Gymnastics has been a huge part of my life for so long. This just makes everything worth it and all those years of hard work have paid off.”

The ‘Hawks ended with the highest team floor score and had four finalists among six qualifying teams, including Mary Kate Young, Wischmann, Katie Thompson and Allyse Dieringer.

Assistant coach Ryan Bendixon saw the floor routines as a key component in winning NCGA Nationals.

“I think right off the bat when we started off with floor, that set the tone,” Bendixon said. “The fact that we had the highest team floor score – that’s usually very uncommon.”

The season for the ‘Hawks was an extremely successful one. The team took the WIAC NCGA West Regional title for the third time in the last four seasons. They also set university records when they defeated Hamline University on March 3.

“We are very, very proud of the girls,” Bendixon said. “We knew quite early that they had it in them to pull this off, and we’re glad that they got to finish on their terms.”