Tkaczuk Becomes Titans' 12th NCGA Champion
Freshman Baylee Tkaczuk took first place on the uneven bars to lead UW-Oshkosh's three All-America performances at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championship held Friday and Saturday (March 31-April 1) in Menomonie.
Tkaczuk recorded a score of 9.775 on the uneven bars to defeat 21 other gymnasts, including UW-Whitewater's Lisa O'Donnell who finished second and UW-La Crosse's Abby Ostrovsky who placed third with marks of 9.75 and 9.675, respectively.
Tkaczuk, who also placed 21st on the balance beam with a score of 7.675, becomes the 12th UW-Oshkosh gymnast and first since 2007 (Teresa Phelps on the uneven bars and Vanessa Virbitsky on the vault) to win an event at the NCGA Championship. The 12 Titans have combined for 16 national titles, including three won by both Mary Leivian and Amy Webb.
UW-Oshkosh's Jessica Bernardo earned her All-America award by finishing second among 15 participants in the all-around competition with a season-best 37.575 points. The Titan freshman finished behind O'Donnell's winning score of 38.225 after totaling 9.525 points on the balance beam, 9.40 in the floor exercise, 9.35 on the uneven bars and 9.30 on the vault. Marissa DeAngelo of Springfield College (Mass.) placed third in the all-around competition with 37.45 points.
UW-Oshkosh sophomore Dana LoCascio achieved All-America recognition by finishing fifth among 21 competitors on the balance beam with a score of 9.475. Candi Kowalik of State University of New York-Brockport and Kari Willett of UW-La Crosse recorded scores of 9.60 to share first place while Eboni Jackson of Winona State University (Minn.) placed third at 9.575.
LoCascio also finished 16th among 16 participants on the vault with a score of 9.40. O'Donnell won the event with a score of 9.725 while Alex Kopp of Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) placed second with a mark of 9.70. Five gymnasts shared third place after posting scores of 9.65.
UW-Oshkosh was also represented at the championship by sophomore Bailey Finin in the floor exercise. Finin finished 15th among the event's 21 competitors with a score of 9.55. Jackson won the floor exercise competition with 9.85 points while Courtney Pickett of UW-Whitewater placed second with 9.80 and Elsa Spitzmueller of UW-La Crosse third with 9.75.
UW-Whitewater outscored five other teams to win its fourth NCGA title and first since 2014. The Warhawks compiled 191.00 points while two-time defending champion UW-La Crosse finished second with 188.30 and State University of New York-Brockport third with 186.80.
Completing the team standings were fourth-place Ursinus College (Pa.) with 186.75 points, fifth-place UW-Stout with 186.475 and sixth-place Springfield College with 184.775.
The NCGA also announced its 2017 All-America in Academics Awards at the championship. The 43-member squad included seniors Taylor Ennocenti and Valene Knutson from UW-Oshkosh.
2017 NCGA Championship Website • NCGA Website
Photo courtesy of Layne Pitt, UW-Stout Sports Information