Tkaczuk To Represent Titans At NCGA Championship
UW-Oshkosh sophomore Baylee Tkaczuk looks to defend her uneven bars title at this weekend's National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championship in Springfield, Mass.
Activities begin Friday (March 23) at 4 p.m. (CDT) with the team and individual all-around competition from Springfield College's Blake Arena. The meet resumes Saturday (March 24) at 3 p.m. (CDT) with competition in the other four individual event categories (balance beam, floor exercise, uneven bars and vault).
Tkaczuk recorded a score of 9.775 on the uneven bars to defeat 21 other gymnasts at last year's championship, including UW-Whitewater's Lisa O'Donnell who finished second with a figure of 9.75.
Tkaczuk will also compete this weekend on the balance beam. Last year she placed 21st on the apparatus with a score of 7.675.
Tkaczuk qualified for the NCGA Championship by virtue of her performance throughout the season, including the WIAC Championship/West Regional (presented by Culver's) held March 4 in St. Peter, Minn.
Tkaczuk placed second on the uneven bars with a score of 9.725 at the WIAC Championship/West Regional to earn an automatic bid to the national meet. She also received an at-large berth on the balance beam to the national championship with her season average score of 9.5688. Tkaczuk is among 23 competitors on the uneven bars and 21 on the balance beam.
The top 10 individuals in the all-around competition and the top six performers in the balance beam, floor exercise, uneven bars and vault earn NCGA All-America First Team awards. Gymnasts finishing seventh through 12th in the balance beam, floor exercise, uneven bars and vault collect NCGA All-America Second Team recognition.
Competing for this year's national team title are Hamline University (Minn.), Ithaca College (N.Y.), State University of New York at Brockport, State University of New York at Cortland, UW-La Crosse and defending champion UW-Whitewater.
UW-Oshkosh will host the 2019 NCGA Championship on March 22-23 in Kolf Sports Center.