For the last couple years, the gymnastics team had a national championship in mind.

Finishing third in 2009 and 2010 and second last year, the Warhawks finally reached that goal after winning their first national title the weekend of March 24.
The ’Hawks put up 188.05 points, good enough for fifth best in school history.  UW-La Crosse, who won the past four years, finished third.

“It feels so great,” junior Mary Kate Young said. “We’ve been working so hard all year and I’m so glad our hard work paid off.”

Not only did the ’Hawks make history as a team, but sophomore Allyse Dieringer won the uneven parallel bars title after tying a school record 9.75. Dieringer is the fourth gymnast in school history to win an individual event.

“Being a national champion is such a humbling experience,” Dieringer said. “At first I thought it was cool, but then when my teammates and family were so happy and proud for me, it all hit me.”

Heading into the final event, the ’Hawks were up 140.3 to 140.15. Even after posting a 47.75 in vault, which was good for third highest total in school history, Brockport scored even higher to earn a share of the title.

Six different Warhawks earned All-American honors, including junior Katie Thompson who earned the honors placing fifth in vault, second in bars and second in the all-around  competition, the highest in school history.
Thompson upped her All-American honors to 10 total, which is the most in school history.

Junior Siri Wischmann also earned two All-American honors in beam (tied for second) and vault (ninth) while freshman Cici Talcott finished seventh in vault and Cami Gilman finished 10th in bars.
Young said she was impressed with the freshman stepping up because Talcott was sick before nationals and Gilman hadn’t performed in a meet all season.

“We were really proud of [Talcott] and [Gilman] for stepping up,” Young said. “We wouldn’t have done it without their scores.”

Young said finishing second in the conference championship really motivated them for nationals.

“It was the perfect ending to the year, especially after losing conference,” Young said. “That just gave us the extra boost to win it all.”
Young finished second in beam and eighth in floor.

With the ’Hawks capturing their first title, Dieringer said it set a standard for years to come.

“I feel like being national champions is more of a ‘cherry on top,’” Dieringer said. “Now that it happened once, we will have to come back even stronger for it to happen again. There will be a little more pressure, but it’s what we love.”

The ’Hawks will lose seniors Leah Applin, Lauren Corrigan, Katrin Finch, Annie Mix and Rachel Moldovan.