Issued: December 23, 2003

BLUGOLDS TO HOST EIGHTH ANNUAL ALOHA INVITE

The UW-Eau Claire gymnastics team will host the eighth annual UW-Eau Claire Gymnastics Invitational dubbed the "Aloha Invite" Saturday at the McPhee Phy. Ed. Center main gyms.

Teams participating in the invite include Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rivals UW-La Crosse and UW-Whitewater along with Gustavus Adolphus College and Hamline University.

The competition area will open at 10:15 a.m. followed by timed warm-ups from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. At 12:55, the gymnasts will march in with the awards presentation taking place from 3:30 to 4 p.m.

In past years the winner of this invite has changed hands numerous times. In the 1998 season UW-Stout edged out the Blugolds 128.75-128.25, in 1999 UW-Oshkosh was victorious, Hamline won in 2000, La Crosse took first in 2001, and Hamline took back the top spot last year.

The Blugolds come into the invitational holding their best record since the 1977-78 season at 3-0 including victories over Hamline and Whitewater. Eau Claire also defeated Oshkosh for the first time since the 1997-98 season.

The top performers for the Blugolds are Kristina Reitzel (Jr.-Oakdale, MN/Hill-Murray), Jessica Pink (Sr.-Monticello, MN), and Alison Eagles (So.-Shoreview, MN/Mounds View). Reitzel, Pink and Eagles are the team record holders in every event. Reitzel holds the team record in the vault, floor exercise and all-around. Pink is the team record holder on the balance beam and on the uneven bars while Eagles shares the team record with Reitzel in the vault.

La Crosse comes into the invite as the two-time defending national champions and six-time WIAC champion. The Eagles also come in with two All-Americans in senior Michelle Saxton on the uneven bars and junior Nancy Petersen in the floor exercise.

Gustavus Adolphus brings with them an All-American and defending national all-around champion in Amanda Parker. Hamline brings in an All-American of their own in Melissa Stanton in both the uneven bars and all-around.

Ticket prices are $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens and UWEC faculty and staff, $3 for youths, and $2 for UWEC students.