OSHKOSH, Wis. – Three Gustavus gymnasts Saturday competed at the NCGA Championship at UW-Oshkosh and brought home three All-America honors.
Both Brooke Merila (Fy., St. Michael, Minn.) and Amanda Malo (Sr., Greenwood, Minn.) earned All-America in the all-around, while Malo added an All-American performance on the bars.
Merila totaled a 37.350 in the all-around to place fourth and Malo accumulated a 36.900 to take seventh. Malo’s 9.575 on the bars was good for sixth place. Sam Ardy (Sr., Thousand Oak, Calif.) finished the all-around with a 35.075 to place 10th.
Gustavus now has 103 total All-America distinctions in its program history. Malo finishes her career as a three-time All-American.
“It’s been a fun weekend celebrating the culmination of the season,” Head Coach Aryn DeGrood said. “It was particularly enjoyable celebrating our seniors and their fantastic careers. All six graduating seniors earned Academic All-American. That’s a huge accomplishment and something we strive for in the program. Brooke had a career day, setting personal bests on floor, beam and in all-around. That’s a huge day on this incredible stage and was so fun to watch. Malo had a fantastic day as a whole. To earn two All American honors tonight and set a personal best on bars is huge. Sam fought her tail off tonight. While things didn’t finish the way we wanted she handled it with grace. I couldn’t be more proud of the three of them and how the represented Gustavus this weekend.”
Here are tonight’s results for the three Gusties:
Vault
31. Malo 9.450
41. Ardy 9.350
41. Merila 9.350
Bars
6. Malo 9.575
22. Ardy 9.375
31. Merila 9.100
Beam
30. Merila 9.250
45. Malo 8.350
47. Ardy 8.225
Floor
16. Merila 9.650
24. Malo 9.525
49. Ardy 8.125
All-Around
4. Merila 37.350
7. Malo 36.900
10. Ardy 35.075
Awesome. Great job one and all.
Amanda and Sam maybe not your best performance day it appears, that h but finishing as All Americans is a fitting culmination to your wonderful careers You have both made us proud to call you Gusties. Lots of great things ahead for both of you I am convinced.
All I can say to Brooke is you are one scary young woman, top four in your first year at the big show. Three years left to hone the skills. Get ready for the big time.
Love you guys, that goes for the whole gang!
Jerry