Nicole Gergen
Brittany Moore
Christine Askham
Four Gustavus Adolphus College gymnasts competed in individual event qualifying at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championships this weekend at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Senior Nicole Gergen (Hastings, Minn.) finished 11th on the balance beam with a score of 8.900. Gergen, who received NCGA Second Team All-America honors for her efforts, advanced to the finals after placing tenth in qualifying Friday night with a 9.225. A total of 56 competitors competed on the balance beam with 14 advancing to Saturday’s event finals.
Senior Brittany Moore (Plymouth, Minn./St. Louis Park), competing in her fourth NCGA Championship, finished in a tie for 20th place on the vault with a score of 9.450. Sophomore Laura Hansen (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) also finished in a 20th-place tie after a 9.250 effort on the uneven bars.
Gergen, the only Gustie to qualify in more than one event, also finished in a tie for 29th place on the floor exercise with a 9.375 Friday night. Christine Askham (So., Arvada, Colo./West) rounded out the Gustavus contingent with a 9.350 on the floor to place 33rd.
The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh finished second on the vault, uneven bars, and balance beam and tied for third on the floor exercise to capture the team title 185.575-185.475 over Ursinus College. The title is the second in school history for the Titans, who also won in 1989. It also ended a string of six straight NCGA titles for the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, which finished third with a score of 183.350.
The NCGA All-Academic Awards were also released during the championships. Gergen, Gretchen Blomme, Stephanie Berglund, Dana Ryerson, and Stephanie Lovik were all honored.