Issued: February 28, 2003

WOMEN PLACE SECOND AT WIAC GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIP

OSHKOSH - The UW-Eau Claire gymnastics team continued its record breaking season as it shattered the record for highest team score with a 180.325 en route to a second place finish out of five teams here tonight at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship at the Kolf Sports Center.

The Blugolds score topped the team record of 176.950 which was set last Friday. La Crosse finished in first place at the championship with a score of 182.575. The Blugolds' second place finish is the highest finish at the conference championship for Eau Claire since the 1982-83 championships when the Blugolds also finished in second place.

The highest team score was not the only Eau Claire record broke on the evening. Alison Eagles (So-Shoreview, MN/Mounds View) set a new school record for highest all-around score with a mark of 37.100, eclipsing the former mark of 36.225 by teammate Kristina Reitzel (Jr-Oakdale, MN/Hill-Murray). Reitzel set the mark this January at the Aloha Invite in Eau Claire. Eagles also broke Reitzel's record in the floor exercise as she posted a 9.60. While the high mark on the floor was good for just fifth place, Eagles claimed first place in both the all-around and the vault competitions. The sophomore finished sixth or better in all four events. Her score in the floor exercise helped the Blugolds top the highest team score record in that event with a 46.450.

Eau Claire also broke the record for highest team score in the balance beam with a 45.900. The team was led by Lynn Morris (Fr-Monticell, IN/Twin Lakes) who finished second in the event with a 9.475, breaking her own record set one week ago.

Reitzel had a fine evening of her own as she posted an all-around score of 35.250, good for sixth overall. She finished seventh on the balance beam with a score of 9.200.

Jessica Pink (Sr-Monticello, MN) scored a top three finish for the Blugolds as she place third in the vault with a score of 9.300.

Kerrie Beach of Oshkosh was named WIAC Coach of the Year following the championship while Jennifer Williams of Oshkosh was named the Judy Kruckman WIAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Eau Claire will be in action next Friday at the John Zuerlein Invitational in Menomonie. The event is set to begin at 7:00 p.m.

Complete Results