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TWU
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Life > Athletics > Gymnastics > March
25
TWU FINISHES SECOND AT MIDWEST INDEPENDENT
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
DENTON,
Texas – In the closest finish since Texas Woman’s
University has competed for the Midwest Independent Conference
Championship, the Pioneers claimed second place right behind
the University of Illinois-Chicago.
The results hung in the balance until the final routine as the Flames won the
meet for the fourth straight year with a score of 194.200, followed by TWU
(194.125), Centenary (194.100), Southeast Missouri State (193.500) and Illinois
State (192.650).
“I knew that if all these teams came in fired up it would be an extremely
close meet. I called it a ‘barnburner’ earlier and it certainly was.
I knew it would come down to the final routine and it did,” head coach
Frank Kudlac said. “First of all I am extremely proud of the team; they
were fighters and competitors.”
TWU was impressive individually claiming first place on the uneven bars, balance
beam and floor exercise. Courtney Arno won the bars with a 9.800 mark. Goddard
took the beam title with a 9.925 which tied her school record score. On the
floor, Brittany Abney was part of a three-way tie for first place and matched
her career-high with a 9.900.
“We had three individual event conference champions. Brittany tied on floor,
Rachel won the beam outright with the best routine of her life and Arno proved
why she is ranked up there on bars,” Kudlac added. “This added fuel
to our fire as we look to regain our national title in two weeks. It is just
another stepping stone. My teams have always peaked at the right time and we
are headed in right direction.”
As the host school, TWU competed in Olympic order and started on the vault.
Abney led the way with a 9.825 which tied for second place and paced the Pioneers
to a 48.525 team total.
On the bars, Arno continued to be solid with a 9.800. Brisa Fuentes added a
9.700 to TWU’s 48.400 team score.
After a bye in the third rotation, TWU competed on the beam in the fourth rotation.
Goddard hit her routine with a 9.925 to lead the team to a 48.800 mark.
On the last rotation, the floor, Thecla Gavin who competed for just the sixth
time this season started the event with a career-high 9.850. She was followed
by Addi Hundley-Ledford (9.700), Jennifer Bolli (9.675), Nakia Westbrook (9.275),
Abney (9.900) and Goddard (9.150). The squad combined for a 48.400 team score.
Goddard, Abney and Arno each earned MIC All-Conference accolades as well by
finishing in the top three of their respective events. Additionally, TWU assistant
coach Jackie Fain was named the MIC Assistant Coach of the Year.
At the conclusion of the meet, the MIC presented end of the year awards including
Athlete of the Year (co-winners Jennifer O’Neil, UIC, and Tara Boldt,
SEMO), Senior Athlete of the Year (Jackie Jaworowicz, UIC), Newcomer of the
Year (Allison Ezell, SEMO, and Ashley Howell, UIC), Assistant Coach of the
Year (Fain, TWU) and Head Coach of the Year (Peter and Mary Jansson, UIC).
The Pioneers await word if any individuals will qualify for the NCAA South
Central Regional Championships at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on April
9. The following weekend, TWU travels to Cornell University to compete in the
USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championships, April 14-16.
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