UW-La Crosse Wins UW-Eau Claire Invite; Hooper Captures Vault and Floor

For Immediate Release: Friday, Jan. 16, 2009

Eau Claire, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse gymnastics team captured the UW-Eau Claire Invitational Friday night in the McPhee Physical Education Center. The Eagles finished with a team score of 180.725 while UW-Stout was second at 176.350 and host Blugolds third with a score of 171.725.

UW-L's Gabi Hooper won two individual titles Friday night, taking the vault (9.475) and floor exercise (9.425).

The Eagles' Erin Sommer was second (36.175) and Jackie LaFleur third (35.400) in the all-around competition. Sommer tied for fourth on the vault (9.300) while finishin fourth on the balance beam (9.125), fifth on the floor exercise (9.225) and eighth on the uneven parallel bars (8.525). LaFleur was second on the vault (9.425) for UW-L while placing fourth on the floor (9.300) and ninth on the bars (8.500).

Other top finishers in individual events included Mackenzie Howard placing second on the bars (8.850), third on the balance beam (9.250) and sixth on the floor (9.175) while Kelsey Matula tied for second on the floor exercise (9.375) and finished third on the bars (8.825) and 10th on the beam (8.500).

UW-L's Schaelyn McFadden was fourth on the uneven parallel bars (8.800) and eighth on the floor (8.900).

Rachel Budelier placed fifth on the balance beam (9.050) while Chelsy Luck was seventh on the bars (8.725). The Eagles' Courtney Gonzales finished eighth (9.125) and Kahlynn Hunt ninth (9.075) on the vault.

For complete results, click here.

UW-L returns to action Saturday, Jan. 24 at Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) at 2 p.m.