Ghani wins two golds at USA Gymnastics Women’s Collegiate Championships

SEATTLE, Wash., April 22, 2007—Towson University’s Christina Ghani added two more titles to her all-around and team crowns by winning vault and tying for first on floor exercise during Saturday’s individual event finals at the 2007 USA Gymnastics Women’s Collegiate Championships at Seattle Pacific University’s Royal Brougham Pavilion in Seattle. Ghani finished with a total of five medals, four gold and one silver.

Ghani earned a score of 9.8500 on vault and tied with Cornell University’s Kari Kucera on floor with a 9.8750. Courtney Arno of Texas Woman’s University won the uneven bars with a 9.8250, while TWU’s Rachel Zimmerman won the balance beam with a 9.8750.

 

The annual athlete and coach of the year awards were presented at the meet. The winners were: Ghani, Senior Athlete of the Year; Cornell’s Paul Beckwith, Head Coach of the Year; Cornell’s Melanie Dillaplane, Assistant Coach of the Year; and TWU’s Catherine Schnoes, Mari-Rae Sopper Award.

 

Centenary College’s Meredith Smith and Towson’s Decelia Willacy were second and third, respectively, on vault. Ghani, Seattle Pacific’s Ashley Domres and Temple University’s Sarah Liebowitz finished in a three-way tie for second on uneven bars, while Towson teammates Jackie Schweitzer and Christine Logan were second and third, respectively, on beam. Seattle Pacific’s Sarah Sullivan was third on floor.

 

The 2007 USA Gymnastics Women’s Collegiate Championships was sponsored locally by Leisure Care Inc.

 

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. Its disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics. For more information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org.
 

 

Vault
1. Christina Ghani, Towson, 9.8500
2. Meredith Smith, Centenary College, 9.8250
3. Decelia Willacy, Towson, 9.7375
4. Kristin Bryant, Seattle Pacific, 9.7125
5. Sarah Sullivan, Seattle Pacific, 9.6750
6. Christina Padilla, William and Mary, 9.6000
7. Catherine Schnoes, TWU, 9.4250
8. Colleen Davis, Cornell, 9.2875
9. Jackie Schweitzer, Towson, 9.2250
10. Courtney Hawkins, Centenary College, 8.3250

 

Uneven Bars
1. Courtney Arno, TWU, 9.8250
2. Ashley Domres, Seattle Pacific, 9.7500
2. Sarah Liebowitz, Temple, 9.7500
2. Christina Ghani, Towson, 9.7500
5. Brianna Schwartz, Seattle Pacific, 9.7000
6. Christine McNeill, Temple, 9.6750
6. Decelia Willacy, Towson 9.6750
8. Mandy Bennett, Centenary College, 9.6000
9. Molly Parker, Cornell, 9.5500
10. Christina Padilla, William and Mary, 9.2250
11. Julia Cornelius, Centenary College, 9.2000
12. Jennifer Yee, Cornell, 8.8750

 

Balance Beam
1. Rachel Zimmerman, TWU, 9.8750
2. Jackie Schweitzer, Towson, 9.8500
3. Christine Logan, Towson, 9.8000
4. Julia Cornelius, Centenary College, 9.7500
4. Latara Northcutt, Rutgers, 9.7500
6. Christie Chinaka, Seattle Pacific, 9.7000
6. Kari Kucera, Cornell, 9.7000
8. Courtney Arno, TWU, 9.5500
9. Jess Hannah, Towson, 8.8500
10. Kristin Bryant, Seattle Pacific, 8.6750

 

Floor exercise
1. Christina Ghani, Towson, 9.8750
1. Kari Kucera, Cornell, 9.8750
3. Sarah Sullivan, Seattle Pacific, 9.8500
4. Alise McDonald, Towson, 9.8000
5. Kristina Menne, Centenary College, 9.7500
6. Brianna Schwartz, Seattle Pacific, 9.7250
7. Noelle Moore, Temple, 9.6500
8. Amy Hulbert, TWU, 9.2000
8. Stacie Hogan, Towson, 9.2000
10. Stevie Waldman, William and Mary, 8.9500
11. Brittany Howse, Cornell, 8.5000