Titans Edge Defending National Champion Warhawks

Titans Edge Defending National Champion Warhawks

UW-Oshkosh recorded its highest women's gymnastics score of the season for the second consecutive meet during a 189.475-189.150 victory over defending national champion UW-Whitewater on Sunday (Feb. 24) in Whitewater.

The Titans reached their overall season high with season-best team scores of 47.925 in the floor exercise, 47.40 on the vault and 46.35 on the uneven bars. UW-Oshkosh totaled 47.80 points on the balance beam.

UW-Whitewater also achieved its best team score of the year. The Warhawks compiled event marks of 47.425 on the balance beam, 47.30 in the floor exercise, 47.275 on the vault and 47.15 on the uneven bars.

UW-Oshkosh entered the meet ranked seventh by the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association and UW-Whitewater eighth.

The Titans owned the winner in three individual categories – balance beam, vault and all-around competition.

Kaira Hammond took first place on the balance beam with a score of 9.725 while UW-Oshkosh teammates Baylee Tkaczuk finished second and Olivia Keller fourth with marks of 9.70 and 9.65, respectively.

On the vault, UW-Oshkosh's Emily Gilot and UW-Whitewater's Lauren Marshall shared first place with their score of 9.675. The Titans also had Rahdea Jarvis finish fourth with a figure of 9.50 and Amira Ali sixth at 9.45. The scores were season bests for all three UW-Oshkosh gymnasts.

UW-Oshkosh possessed four top-six performers in the floor exercise, including Gilot and Finin who tied for second place with their season-best scores of 9.65. Ali finished fourth in the event with a season-high score of 9.575 and Jarvis sixth at 9.55.

The uneven bars featured UW-Oshkosh's Tkaczuk finishing second with a score of 9.575, Jarvis fifth at 9.475 and Bailee Hardy sixth at 9.425. All three marks were season bests.

UW-Oshkosh had the only two all-around competitors – Jessica Bernardo who finished first with a score of 37.25 and Gilot who placed second with a count of 37.15.

UW-Whitewater's Erika Briscoe won the floor exercise with a score of 9.675 while the Warhawks' Acacia Fossum captured first place on the uneven bars with a figure of 9.60.

UW-Oshkosh concludes the regular season Saturday (March) with another dual meet at UW-Whitewater.