Tkaczuk Repeats As National Uneven Bars Champion
UW-Oshkosh sophomore Baylee Tkaczuk repeated as champion on the uneven bars with a meet-record score and earned All-America status on the balance beam at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championship held Friday and Saturday (March 23-24) in Springfield, Mass.
Tkaczuk registered a record score of 9.85 on the uneven bars to defeat 21 other gymnasts, including UW-La Crosse's Amy Enright, who finished second with a value of 9.825. Tkaczuk, who won last year's uneven bars title with a score of 9.775, eclisped the old record score of 9.825 established by UW-La Crosse's Dani Barmore and UW-Whitewater's Mackenzie Smith in 2016.
Rounding out the All-America performances on the uneven bars at this year's championship were Lauren Wilson of UW-La Crosse and Lisa O'Donnell of UW-Whitewater with their third-place scores of 9.775; Miranda Shaine of State University of New York at Brockport, Hannah Lewis of UW-Eau Claire and Sierra Beaver of UW-Stout with their fifth-place figures of 9.75; and Jessica Clemens of Springfield College (Mass.) with her eighth-place result of 9.70.
Tkaczuk, who placed 21st on the balance beam at last year's championship, picked up her second All-America award at this year's meet with her sixth-place score on the balance beam of 9.725.
Sam Weyker of UW-La Crosse won this year's balance beam title with a score of 9.825. Other All-America listings on the apparatus belonged to Katie Mierow of UW-Whitewater with her second-place score of 9.775; Candis Kowalik of State University of New York at Brockport, Emma Schultz of State University of New York at Cortland and Franchesca Hutton of UW-Whitewater with their third-place figures of 9.75; Clemens with her seventh-place mark of 9.70; and Bailey Gildemeyer of State University of New York at Cortland and Amanda Palladino of Ursinus College (Pa.) with their eighth-place results of 9.675.
Tkaczuk, UW-Oshkosh's lone competitor at this year's championship, is one of 12 Titans who have combined to win 17 NCGA titles. The list also includes three-time national champions Mary Leivian and Amy Webb.
Also winning event titles at this year's meet were Dani Barmore of UW-La Crosse on vault, Tali Twomey of Springfield College on floor exercise and O'Donnell of UW-Whitewater in the all-around competition.
Defending champion UW-Whitewater outscored five other teams to win its fifth NCGA title with 193.700 points. UW-La Crosse finished second with 192.55 points while State University of New York at Brockport placed third with 191.35.
Completing the team standings were fourth-place Hamline University (Minn.) with 190.00 points, fifth-place State University of New York at Cortland with 189.00 and sixth-place Ithaca College (N.Y.) with 188.175.
UW-Oshkosh will host the 2019 NCGA Championship on March 22-23 in Kolf Sports Center.