ST. PETER, Minn. – Three Gustavus gymnasts will represent the College this weekend at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championship, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Sam Ardy (So., Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Lauren Kershner (Sr., Marine, Ill.), and Alex Kopp (Sr., Wayzata, Minn.) qualified for the national meet, marking the first time in Head Coach Aryn DeGrood’s tenure that three Gusties advanced to the NCGA Championship.
Ardy, who is making her first appearance at the NCGAs, will compete on the uneven bars. Ardy posted a career-high 9.625 on bars to lead the Gusties at the WIAC/NCGA West Region qualifier on March 18, which also tied the school record set by Jamie Ries in 2014.
Kershner is making her second appearance at the national meet – first since her first year – and will compete in the all-around. Kershner tied for fifth in the all-around at the conference championship, totaling a 37.450. The Triad High School product’s career-high in the all-around is 37.650, which was set on Feb. 10 against Hamline. Her highest individual event score this season was a 9.675 on beam, which is tied for third best in program history.
Kopp, the defending floor exercise national champion, will not have the opportunity to defend her title as she qualified for the vault and all-around. Kopp, who is making her third straight appearance at the national meet, took fourth on the vault at the regional qualifier with a 9.600. She also tied for fifth in the all-around with a 37.450. Her career-high on vault is 9.625, set Feb. 26 at the Best of Minnesota, while her career-best in the all-around is 38.525, set last season, which is also the school record.
Team and all-around championships take place at 6 p.m. Friday, while individual event championships begin at 4 p.m. Saturday at Johnson Fieldhouse in the Sports & Fitness Center. For complete information on the NCGA Championship, please view the NCGA Championship website here, where you can access live results and video.