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Women's Gymnastics

Karnitz Chosen As NCGA National Coach Of The Year

Karnitz Chosen As NCGA National Coach Of The Year

The National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) named UW-Oshkosh head coach Lauren Karnitz as the organization's 2019 National Coach of the Year.

Karnitz, who just finished her 12th season guiding the Titans, led UW-Oshkosh to a fourth-place finish at the NCGA Championship held last Saturday (March 23) in Kolf Sports Center. She also directed the Titans to a second-place finish at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC)/NCGA West Regional held March 9 in Menomonie.

UW-Oshkosh scored 189.400 points as it qualified for the NCGA Championship for the first time since 2014 and 16th time overall. The Titans had six All-America performances at this year's national meet, including a pair by freshman Emily Gilot who finished sixth in the floor exercise and eighth on the vault. UW-Oshkosh also received a third-place finish from junior Jessica Bernardo in the all-around competition and a fourth-place finish on the uneven bars from junior Baylee Tkaczuk.

UW-Oshkosh's second-place finish at this year's WIAC Championship/NCGA West Regional was its highest since ranking second at the meet in 2007. The Titans had seven all-conference performers, including freshmen Kaira Hammond and Rahdea Jarvis who placed second on the balance beam and uneven bars, respectively.

UW-Oshkosh surpassed a score of 189.00 in four of its 11 meets this season. The Titans set a school record when they tallied 191.850 points during their road victory (191.850-190.675) over two-time defending national champion UW-Whitewater on March 2.

Karnitz is the third UW-Oshkosh head coach to receive NCGA National Coach of Year accolades, as Paul Scardina won the award in 1995 and Nadalie Walsh in 2006. 

Karnitz took over the leadership of the UW-Oshkosh women's gymnastics program following the 2007 season. In 2014, she led the Titans to a third-place finish at the WIAC Championship/NCGA West Regional and a fifth-place listing at the NCGA Championship.

Karnitz has coached 11 Titans to 25 NCGA All-America citations. Among them are Tkaczuk who won consecutive national uneven bars titles in 2017 and 2018.

Karnitz competed for the Titans from 2003-06. She earned All-WIAC honors in the floor exercise during 2004 and qualified for the floor exercise event finals at the 2006 NCGA Championship. With Karnitz as team captain, UW-Oshkosh placed third at the 2006 NCGA Championship.

Karnitz earned a bachelor's of science and a master's of professional counseling from UW-Oshkosh. She resides in Neenah with her husband, Bruce, a former UW-Oshkosh baseball player, and their two children.