The Gustavus gymnastics team finished fifth out of eight teams at the NCGA Division III Championships held at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, Mass. Amanda Parker finished second in the all-around competition.
The Gusties shattered the school record for highest team score with a total of 187.425. The old record was 183.925 which was set earlier this year against UW-Stout. Coach Kris Glidden’s squad scored 46.775 on the vault, 45.50 on the uneven bars, 46.375 on the balance beam and a school record 48.775 on the floor exercise. UW-La Crosse won the team title with a score of 191. 275.
Amanda Parker, who won the national all-around title two years ago and finished sixth last year, set the school record for all-around score at 38.050. She is the first gymnast in Gustavus history to score over 38.0 in the all-around. Parker scored 9.175 on the vault, 9.60 on the uneven bars, 9.50 on the balance beam and 9.775 on the floor exercise. Carrie Santore of Brockport State (NY) won the all-around title with a score of 38.675.
The championships will conclude on Saturday with the individual event finals. Two Gustavus gymnasts, Amanda Parker and Ashley Erickson advanced to the finals in three different events by placing in the top 12 of the event after Friday’s competition. Ashley Erickson advanced by placing 11th in the vault with a score of 9.525 and eighth in the uneven bars with a score of 9.475. Amanda Parker advanced in the uneven bars where she is in first place with a score of 9.60 and in the balance beam where she is in 10th place with a score of 9.50.