On Friday Feb. 20, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse gymnastics team faced off against the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at the La Crosse Center. Both teams came into the meet red hot with Whitewater building momentum off three straight wins and the UWL Eagles fighting to keep their undefeated regular season alive. The meet would come down to the wire with UWL pulling through to come out on top 192.625 to 192.450.
Aside from facing a tough opponent, the team was forced to adapt to performing in a new environment. The La Crosse Center presented different challenges from their usual home venue of Mitchell Hall Gymnasium.
“You have to adjust to the brightness of it, the lights, the music’s loud, you have to adjust to the hugeness of it all because our home gym is a little more compact,” said fourth-year Gymnast Lily Millington.
The Eagles did more than just adjust, as they were able to outscore the Warhawks in three of the four events. The team pulled through in vault with a final score of 48.325 to 47.800. UWL’s Paige Breckwoldt placed second with a score of 9.700, followed closely by teammates Cobi Powell and Ashley Dalton,who tied for third.
Uneven bars was also a close battle, yet the Eagles prevailed coming out on top 48.425 to 48.250. UWL claimed the top two scorers with an eye-popping 9.775 performance from Madalyn McCormik, who placed first, and Azia Hawkins who placed second with a 9.750.
The team dominated the balance beams as Eagles gymnasts claimed four top spots with a score of 48.550. The Warhawks trailed with a mark of 48.000. Lauren Main claimed first with a score of 9.775, Lainy Vogt finished second with a 9.725, Darby Savage finished third with a 9.700, Raina Christenson and McCormick claimed two spots in a three-way tie for fourth with 9.675.
By the fourth and final rotation, tensions rose within the La Crosse Center as scores from the Warhawks coming from the balance beam showed them overtaking the Eagles. UWL fans rose to their feet, cheering on their team for the final event. Eagles gymnasts also demonstrated overwhelming support for each other as they cheered for each teammate, regardless of the result.
“It’s honestly a great feeling just knowing no matter what happens they have our backs, so if someone does fall, we have to trust in ourselves and our team that they will bring it back,” commented first-year gymnast Azia Hawkins.
Despite UWL falling to the Warhawks in floor exercise 47.325 to 48.400 the team’s solid performance and support from those around them aided the Eagles in coming out on top.
“We have so much support from alumni, from our coaches, and our strength is that we use that, we use each other to build, we’re not doing it for the awards and we’re not doing it for winning, even though that’s nice, we’re doing it for each other and for the legacy we can leave behind,” said Millington.
Going forward UWL gymnastics hopes to make it back to the National Collegiate Gymnastics Championship (NCGA). The team adopted a mindset centered around “defense” on their quest back to the title.
“We’re saying this year is defense not repeat so we’re not trying to. We’re a new team, new people so were coming to really defend the title not repeat what they did last year,” said Hawkins.
The UWL gymnastics season continues Friday Feb. 27 at Mitchell Hall. More stats and information at can be found on the UWL Athletics webpage.
