UW-Whitewater used its annual dedication meet to honor Kara Welsh pairing remembrance with a complete team performance in a 189.225–184.800 victory over Winona State. The Warhawks pushed through a week marked by injuries and illness, leaning on depth and consistency to secure the home win.
The meet opened on vault where Sofia Spadafora set the tone for UW-Whitewater with a 9.65, earning a second place finish. Siena Vavala followed closely with a 9.6, while Maliyah Pound, Danielle Dudziak and Lindsey Hollifield added steady routines to keep the Warhawks in stride.
Momentum swung firmly in UW-Whitewater’s favor on the uneven bars. Ariana Goodwin led the event with a 9.6, while Paige Magel followed with a 9.55 to give the Warhawks the top two scores. Elaine Copeland, Jane Heffernan and Gracie Talley rounded out the rotation as the lead continued to grow.
Balance beam tested composure and the Warhawks delivered. Ashnaya Gupta posted the highest score of the event with a 9.625, while Spadafora added another runner up finish at 9.575. Magel and Tegan Haberstock kept the lineup strong before Caroline Haynes closed the rotation.
UW-Whitewater sealed the meet on floor exercise. Dudziak and Copeland shared the team’s top score with matching 9.475s while Magel, Haberstock and Pound provided consistent finishes to close the night.
Beyond the competition, the meet served as a platform for awareness. Each gymnast represented a cause meaningful to them including mental health advocacy, suicide prevention, cancer awareness, substance abuse recovery, domestic violence prevention and first responder recognition.
Donations in honor of Kara Welsh are being accepted through the Kara Welsh Legacy Scholarship Fund.
