Issue date: 3/16/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Sara Norgon Senior captain Lynn Morris runs through her floor routine at Tuesday's practice at the gymnastics gym in McFee Center.

As most students are returning to the Midwest after enjoying the sunny, warm weather south of the Mason-Dixon Line during spring break, the gymnastics team heads to Brockport (N.Y.) for the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championships.

The team will compete in its usual four areas, the uneven bars, floor exercise, balance beam and vault. Competition begins March 24 and continues
into March 25. The competition will be held at Brockport State University in New York.

The Blugolds will compete against the teams in their regular season conference, UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh, Hamline University (Minn.), UW- Whitewater, Winona State University (Minn.), Gustavus Adolphus University (Minn.) and UW-Stout. The team also will compete against Ithaca College (N.Y.), Springfield College (Mass.), M. I. T. (Mass.), Brockport State, Cortland State University (N.Y.), Ursinus College (Pa.), Rhode Island College (Mass.) and Wilson College (Pa.).

"Our team has yet to peak in competition," senior Lynn Morris said. "We have potential to place in the top three at nationals. It is going to be a close meet."

After placing second in the WIAC Championships, where it competed against La Crosse, Oshkosh, Hamline, Whitewater, Winona State, Gustavus and Stout, the team moved on to perform at nationals, ranked eighth in Div. III out of the 16 total schools.

"Our team's unity was like
no other (at the WIAC Championships)," freshman Anna Sutherland said. "The way our team connected and wanted it made it seem like our performances were better than they were. Although we did well … there were many places we left room for improvements."

The season resulted in three wins, two second-place finishes and three losses during regular season meets.

"I feel the season was very successful for all of us," Sutherland said. "We had many obstacles throughout this season and in the end it made us so much closer as
a team."

One of the larger obstacles the team faced during the season was the season-long injuries sophomore Brittany Adams and senior Leah Ittner suffered early on in
the season.

"Since the injuries, I feel that everyone has stepped it up to help out the team," Morris said.

For the five of the 15 gymnasts on the team who are seniors, this will be their last meet.

"We are losing a third of our team, so I think everyone will be putting their last big fight and determination toward the meet," Sutherland said. "As long as we keep the connection we shared at regions, nothing can stop us from doing our best."

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