By Andrea Sidlauskas

UWW Women’s Gymnastics Team Defeats UW-Eau Claire in Conference Meet

The Warhawks gymnastics team, ranked No. 1 in the NGCA top 25 poll, took another step forward in their quest to repeat as national champions Saturday, with a win over UW-Eau Claire 184.200 to 178.324. The meet, which was held in the Kris Russell Volleyball Arena in Whitewater, Wis., drew a substantial crowd, including UW-Whitewater Chancellor Richard Telfer PhD.

The ’Hawks competed in the vault event for their first rotation. Warhawk Hannah Lee was the vault’s top contender with a score of 9.5, while teammate CiCi Talcott received second place with 9.45. Siri Wischmann and the meet’s overall lead-scorer, Katie Thompson tied for fourth place, adding 9.35 each to the team total of 46.925 to complete the event.

Advancing to the second rotation, the uneven bars, the ’Hawks led the BluGolds by over four points and managed to maintain the lead throughout the meet. The top three spots on the uneven bars event belonged to the ’Hawks, as Allyse Dieringer, 9.475; Thompson, 9.3; and Annie Mix, 9.15, increased the team’s total to 92.050 over the BluGolds’ 88.550.

The ’Hawks competed on the balance beam in their third rotation. Wischmann accrued the event’s top score of 9.525, while Lee and Mary Kate Young grabbed the fourth and fifth places, respectively. Maintaining their lead, the ’Hawks moved on to the floor for their final rotation.

The ’Hawks excelled in the floor exercise, sweeping the top four spots. First place went to Young with the high score of 9.275, followed by teammates Dieringer, 9.225; Thompson, 9.175; and Talcott, 9.150. Upon completion of all four events, the ’Hawks held their position as the top-ranked women’s gymnastics team in the nation.

“We saw a lot of improvements,” head coach Jennifer Regan said. “We had some hard judging today…but the kids kept moving forward, and that’s all that we can really ask.”