MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's gymnastics team opened the 2017 season on the road Sunday, placing second at Central Michigan's Triangular.
The Blugolds tallied 188.700 points while Division I Central Michigan won the meet with 192.075 points. Hamline University was third with 183.875.
It was an eventful first meet for the Blugolds as their total was the highest first meet score in program history and is the second-highest score overall. As a team, Eau Claire also broke the beam team record (47.775), breaking the record set in 2004.
Leading the way for Eau Claire was Tori Erickson (Jr. – Woodbury, MN) who tied for second in the vault with a score of 9.625 and was third on the floor exercise with a 9.800, which ties her personal record and is tied for third all-time in Blugold history. On the beam, she was fifth with a score of 9.625.
Becca Wilcox (Jr. – Roseville, MN/Cretin-Derham Hall) also had a strong showing in the vault, tying for fourth place with a 9.600 and setting a new personal record while Clare Mascia (So. – Woodbury, MN/Convent of the Visitation) was third on the beam with a score of 9.750 which tied her personal best.
On the uneven parallel bars, Hannah Lewis (So. – Saline, MI/Saline) led Eau Claire with a fifth place finish, recording a score of 9.400 and setting a new personal best while Megan Fayler (Fr. –Afton, MN/Stillwater Area) was sixth in her collegiate debut with a personal best of 9.375. Jessica Dhaene (Sr. Stacy, MN/Forest Lake Area) followed in seventh with a score of 9.325.
Other Blugolds setting personal bests on the day on the floor exercise were Erin Olson (Sr. – Faribault, MN/Shattuck-St. Mary's) (9.725), Kiya Bjorge So. – Kennewick, WA/Southridge) (9.575), Amelia Moorehouse (So. – Gregory, MI/FlexTech) (9.550) and Emily Van Krevelen (Sr. Andover, MN/Roseville) (9.475). In addition, Bjorge set a PR on the vault (9.500) as did Claire Lorbiecki (So. – Maple Grove, MN/Wayzata) (9.250).
The Blugolds will be back in action Saturday, January 14th as they compete in the Ozone Classic in Tennessee.