UW-L Wins WIAC Championship/NCGA West Regional; Hooper and Howard Capture Titles

For Immediate Release: Friday, March 6, 2009

Winona, Minn. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse gymnastics team captured its 13th straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championship and seventh consecutive National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) West Regional title Friday night in Winona State's McCown Gymnasium. The Eagles finished with a team score of 187.200 while UW-Whitewater was second at 185.100 and Winona State third with a score of 182.925. UW-L, UW-Whitewater and Winona State all advance to the NCGA Team Championships Friday, March 20 at Hamline University (Minn.).

UW-Stout placed fourth (180.850) Friday night followed by UW-Oshkosh (179.925), Gustavus Adolphus College, Minn. (179.400), Hamline University (178.875) and UW-Eau Claire (173.450).

UW-L's Gabi Hooper tied for first on the vault (9.675) Friday night while Mackenzie Howard captured the balance beam (9.650).

The Eagles' Kelsey Matula placed second in the all-around (37.725) while Jackie LaFleur was sixth (37.300) and Howard seventh (37.275). Matula was also second on the balance beam (9.600) and fifth on the uneven parallel bars (9.350). LaFleur tied for fourth on the vault (9.550) and seventh on the balance beam (9.225).

Courtney Gonzales tied for second on the floor exercise (9.625) while Erin Sommer was fourth (9.600). Along with tying for first on the vault, Hooper was fifth on the balance beam (9.350) and floor exercise (9.575). Hailey Sommer finished 10th on the uneven parallel bars (9.150).

UW-L returns to action Friday, March 20 at the NCGA Championships at Hamline University at 6 p.m.