The Harley Davidson Quad in Milwaukee couldn’t have ended any better for the women’s gymnastics team Friday.
The Warhawks scored 186.475 points to win, followed closely by UW-Stout (185.475), Hamline University (180.5) and UW-Oshkosh (178.65).
The meet came down to one final floor routine for the Warhawks.
It had to be a stellar one because the team had no idea what point total it needed to win.
Head coach Jennifer Regan said the team usually doesn’t mention points and they didn’t know the amount of points junior Mary Kate Young needed to pull out the win.
“We don’t talk about scores during the meet,” Regan said. “I wouldn’t have let her know that anyway because that’s something that we don’t tell the kids. That’s just how we approach things.”
Junior Katie Thompson was one of the individuals competing in the final floor exercise, and also won the uneven bars event with a score of 9.40. Thompson was quick to divert attention away from her success to that of the team’s.
“I think our team was really strong on the floor,” Thompson said. “We went out there and had a good time. It’s good to be able to help out the team, but at the end of the day the team winning is what’s important.”
Thompson added she didn’t expect to win on the uneven bars.
“I was just trying to do the best I could,” Thompson said. “I think it’s exciting that my best was the best that day.”
Young’s final floor routine and Thompson’s uneven bars were just part of the ’Hawks success. Regan said the team had two other standouts during the meet.
“Sophomore Allyse Dieringer has been coming back from a shoulder injury,” Regan said. “She won beam and tied for second on floor. Also Kaitlyn Weber, who’s a sophomore, did fantastic. She hit three out of our four events.”
The ’Hawks still haven’t dropped a competition so far this year and their next meet will be at home Saturday against Gustavus Adolphus College.