Gymnasts place second at WIAC Conference
Women head to nationals, team will reach peak in competition, coach says
Rado, Leah
Issue date: 3/9/06 Section: Sports
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Despite finishing second behind UW-La Crosse's 182.900 for the fourth straight year, Blugold coach Jean DeLisle is not disappointed.
"We did have falls, we did have mistakes, but if you go past looking at falls and mistakes and just look at the energy, camaraderie, excitement and drive that was coming from each of the girls, it is still the best meet that I've been involved with,"
she said.
Sophomore Theresa Lynch led Eau Claire with a second-place finish in the all-around competition after a fourth-place performance in the floor exercise, fifth place on the beam and an eighth place finish on the bars.
"It felt like first," Lynch said. "It was a tough competition and it all came down to tenths."
The Blugolds earned season-high scores in the vault with a total of 46.350. Freshman Anna Sutherland and sophomore Angie Cich tied for 13th to lead Eau Claire with a pair of 9.350's.
Senior Jenni Wick executed a third-place performance on the beam, grabbing a season-high score of 9.350. Fellow Blugold and sophomore Melanie Nichols finished behind Wick in sixth place.
Senior Lynn Morris rounded out the meet for Eau Claire with a fourth-place finish on the bars and an overall score of 36.100, good for sixth place.
Along with Eau Claire and La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh will make the trip to nationals to represent the Western regional. The top three teams at each regional move on as well as the top individuals from teams that
didn't qualify.
"We didn't quite have the depth," DeLisle said. "We've had injuries and other teams kept getting stronger. It's never a given that you're going (to nationals). Seven teams that were sitting pretty even as far as being able to make it to nationals, and we're one of the three."
The Blugolds head to nationals looking to improve on their fourth-place finish at last year's championships.
"I think we have nothing to lose at nationals and I know we will do what we know how," Lynch said.
DeLisle said she believes the team's peak is coming at nationals.
"We didn't have our best performance (at the WIAC Championships), it was more the heart that was put into it that's bringing us to nationals."
Eau Claire heads to the national championships Friday, March 24 and March 25 in Brockport, N.Y. at the State University of New York-Brockport.
DeLisle said she expects the whole team to improve on their performances from the WIAC championships and contribute to a strong team effort.
"There really isn't any (of the girls) we can just come without. Watch out for all of us, and it feels great to be able to say that."