Karnitz Voted Region Coach Of The Year

UW-Oshkosh's Lauren Karnitz received Division III West Region Coach of the Year from the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women.

Karnitz guided the Titans to fifth place at the NCGA Championship on March 21 in Ithaca, N.Y. UW-Oshkosh scored a school-record 188.475 points at the meet, while making its first team appearance since 2007.

Krystal Walker brought home three All-America awards, placing third in the all-around at 38.425, fourth on the balance beam at 9.65 and eighth on the uneven bars at 9.50. Karnitz also coached Leane Blais to a 12th-place score of 9.275 on the bars.

At the WIAC Championship, the Titans finished third with 185.575 points. UW-Oshkosh received fifth-place performances from Blais on the bars (9.50) and Walker in the all-around competition (37.05).

The Titans also tallied 182.625 points to win a triangular with Hamline University (Minn.) and UW-Stout on Jan. 11.

Karnitz has coached the last seven years at UW-Oshkosh. She competed for the Titans from 2003-06 and earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees from the school.

Other NACGC/W recipients for the West Region were UW-Whitewater's Katie Fiorilli for Gymnast of the Year, UW-Whitewater's Ryan Bendixen for Assistant Coach of the Year and UW-La Crosse's Kim Blum for Administrator of the Year.

SUNY-Cortland's Gary Babjack was named the Division III East Region Coach of the Year.

By Jon Feyen