SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Gustavus gymnastics team and Sam Ardy (Jr., Thousand Oaks, Calif.) concluded competition at the NCGA Championships at Springfield College Saturday with the individual event championships. Ardy placed 16th on uneven parallel bars with a score of 9.550.
Making her second appearance at the national meet, Ardy’s score of 9.550 ties her third best bars score. She previously tied a career-high with a score of 9.675 at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference/NCGA West Regional.
“Sam was put in a difficult position this year as the first person in the meet on bars and the entire competition,” said Head Coach Aryn DeGrood. “She handled it with grace and hit her routine. It may not have been the best of the year or the routine she wanted but she hit and started the meet off on a positive, setting the mark for the rest of the competitors. The level of DIII gymnastics has grown dramatically in recent years. It is really tough to earn All-American. That was evident for Sam today. While it isn’t the result she hoped for, it was a great day for her and she should be proud of it. We are certainly proud of her.”
Yesterday, Amanda Malo (Jr., Greenwood, Minn.) took a sixth place finish in the all-around competition, compiling a total score of 37.475 to earn All-American status.
Adding to Saturday’s events are the recipients of the 2018 NCGA All-America in Academics Awards. The award is presented to each gymnast who maintains a 3.0 overall grade point average (GPA) and whose name appears on the team’s NCGA squad list for the current year. Each nominee must qualify as a senior student academically and be in her last year of athletic eligibility. This season, three seniors earned the award – Emily Anderson (Mendota Heights, Minn.), Lisa Jerden (Tucson, Ariz.), and Kate Schneider (Albany, Minn.).