SPRINGFIELD, Mass., March 23, 2010 – The University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse, the defending team champion, is one of six women’s collegiate teams set to compete in the 2010 National Collegiate Gymnastics Championships March 26-27 at Springfield (Mass.) College’s Blake Arena.
The six colleges, three from the east and three from the west, are: Springfield College, State University of New York (SUNY) – Brockport, SUNY – Cortland, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse and Winona State University. The teams were determined by order of finish from their particular regionals. The three teams from the East were: SUNY – Brockport (184.875 points), SUNY – Cortland (184.100), and Springfield College (182.775). The three teams from the West were: UW – Whitewater (185.475 points), UW – La Crosse (183.775), and Winona State University (183.600).
The competition schedule is: March 26 – team and all-around, 4:30 p.m.; and March 27 – individual event finals, 2:30 p.m. A two-day pass is $15 per adult, and $10 per student, seniors aged 65 or above, and children above five years of age. Children aged five and under enter free. A single-day pass will cost $10 per adult, and $7 per student, seniors aged 65 or above, and children above five years of age. Springfield College students can purchase tickets for $3 each day.
The field for individual events will also include specialists competing from several other schools, including Ithaca College, Ursinus College, and Wilson College in the East, and Gustavus Adolphus College, Hamline University, University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, and University of Wisconsin – Stout in the West.
The following overview and rankings of the field is taken from the preview found on Springfield College’s Web site.
In the latest GymInfo National Division III Team Rankings, Brockport is ranked No. 1 with a Team RQS of 187.290. Cortland is second at 184.010. Wisconsin-Whitewater is third at 183.460. Wisconsin-La Crosse is fourth at 182.895. Springfield is sixth at 182.620. And Winona is eighth at 180.460. The following are the high scores for each of these teams this season: Brockport 190.500, Cortland 186.700, Whitewater 185.775, La Crosse 185.700, Springfield 185.300, and Winona 185.250.
The following individuals, all ranked No. 1 in individual events, will be on hand. They include Meghan Hargens (UW-Stout) in the All-Around (37.710 RQS) and in the uneven bars (9.515 RQS); Lauren Gildemeyer (Brockport) in the vault (9.630 RQS) and in the floor exercise (9.780 RQS); and Naomi DeLara (UW-Stout) in the balance beam (9.645 RQS).
Among the home folks from Springfield College, senior Audrey Lastra (New Milford, Conn.) is ranked third among individuals in the balance beam (9.375 RQS). Senior Ericca Castagna (Topsfield, Mass.) is ranked ninth in the vault (9.460 RQS), while junior Christina Pagella (Westfield, Mass.) is tied for 11th in the vault (9.425 RQS). Senior Jeanna Bradle (New Milford, Conn.) is 18th (9.000 RQS) and sophomore Megan German (Spencer, Mass.) is 19th (8.980 RQS) in the uneven bars. Meanwhile, in the floor exercise, Castagna is fourth (9.610 RQS), while Pagella is sixth (9.570), and the duo of senior Kayleigh Davis (Whitefield, N.H.) and freshman Brittany Baglow (Amherst, Mass.) are tied for 13th (9.445 RQS).