Four Titans To Compete At NCGA Championship

UW-Oshkosh will be represented by four gymnasts as Stacie Jenkins (Peoria, Ill.), Alexandria Klier (Fr. • Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.), Jill Lindberg (Jr. • Meridian, Idaho) and Abby Zubella (So. • Appleton) earned invitations to the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championship on Friday and Saturday (March 25-26) in Eau Claire.

The four Titans, who all received at-large bids, are the most from UW-Oshkosh since it captured the NCGA title in 2007. The team championship and all-around standings will be determined on Friday, while four individual gold medals will be handed out on Saturday. The top 12 gymnasts in each event and the top 10 all-around scorers gain All-America status.

Jenkins is making her fourth straight appearance at the event and will take part in the all-around competition. At UW-Whitewater on March 5, she tallied a season-best score of 37.850. Jenkins earned All-America honors for her ninth-place all-around finish in 2009 and 10th-place floor exercise result in 2010.

Klier will grapple the uneven parallel bars, where she has competed in every event this season. She posted her top two scores during the last two weeks, earning a 9.275 on March 5 and a 9.075 at the WIAC Championship.

On the balance beam, Lindberg is a national qualifier for the second consecutive year. She has scored above 9.02 in each of her last four outings. On Jan. 21, Lindberg tallied a 9.350 on the balance beam, in addition to her 9.300 result on March 5.

Zubella is one of five gymnasts entered in the floor exercise. She has topped 9.500 in the event four times this year, including a 9.575 on March 5. Zubella tacked on a 9.550 on Jan. 21 and a 9.525 on Feb. 19.

Seven teams are battling for the team title, including three-time defending champion UW-La Crosse. Joining the Eagles in the West region are UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stout and UW-Whitewater. The East representatives are SUNY-Brockport, SUNY-Cortland and Ithaca College (N.Y.).