UW-L Finishes Second in Triangular; Hooper Wins Two Events and Sets Facility Record

For Immediate Release: Friday, Feb. 27, 2009

La Crosse, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse gymnastics team placed second at its own triangular Friday night in Mitchell Hall. The United States Air Force Academy, an NCAA Division I institution, captured the team title with a score of 187.300. UW-La Crosse was second at 185.675 while UW-Oshkosh placed third with a score of 176.700.

The Eagles' Gabi Hooper captured the vault with a Mitchell Hall record score of 9.850. She broke the record of 9.800 set by Sandra Blake of Southeast Missouri State University Feb. 2, 2007. Hooper also tied for first on the floor exercise Friday night with a score of 9.650. Abbey Rogers of the U.S. Air Force Academy tied for first on the floor (9.650) with Hooper.

UW-L's Kelsey Matula finished second in the all-around (37.375) while also placing third on the balance beam (9.625) and fourth on the uneven parallel bars (8.975). Mackenzie Howard finished fifth in the all-around (36.725) while Jackie LaFleur was sixth (36.300). Howard was also fifth on the balance beam (9.450) while LaFleur finished fifth on the vault (9.575) and tied for sixth on the floor exercise (9.400).

Erin Sommer recorded three top-six finishes Friday night for the Eagles. She placed second on the balance beam (9.650), fifth on the floor exercise (9.550) and sixth on the uneven parallel bars (8.850). Courtney Gonzales was fourth on the vault (9.600) and floor exercise (9.600) while Rachel Budelier finished sixth on the balance beam (9.325).

Rogers captured the all-around (38.275) and balance beam (9.700) for the U.S. Air Force Academy while the Falcons' Aftan Boudreaux won the uneven parallel bars (9.300).

For complete results, click here.

UW-L returns to action Friday, March 6 at the WIAC Championships/NCGA West Regional at Winona (Minn.) State University beginning at 5:30 p.m.