WINONA, Minn. (blugolds.com) — For the fifth time in program history, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire gymnastics team has a national champion. Tia Ravara (Jr. - San Leandro, Calif./Bishop O'Dowd) won the all around national title at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championships on Saturday to become the first Blugold champion since 2012.
Ravara soared to the top of the all around standings with a score of 38.100 to win the title by 0.3 over second place. She placed 12th in two events to help catapult herself into the top spot.
"I have no words," Ravara said. "I'm just so excited to be here. I just had fun, and it paid off. Everything paid off. I'm so excited."
Her top score at the championships came on the balance beam, where she earned a 9.700. That was good for a tie for 12th place in the event. She also scored a 9.575 on the uneven parallel bars to tie for 12th. She tied for 25th in the floor exercise with a 9.650, and placed 46th on the vault with a 9.175.
The showing made Ravara the first gymnast from UW-Eau Claire to win a national championship since Michaela McCamey-Metropulos did so in 2012. Ravara is the first Blugold to ever win an all around national title.
"Being able to work with (coach) Jessie (DeZiel) and come in when I need to, and all I have to do is come in and do my numbers — it's definitely extremely hard, but I try to do my best, and with the support of my teammates it's all worth it," Ravara said.
Fellow Blugolds Harriet Toth (So. - Regina, SK/Martin) also finished on the podium in the all around competition. She placed sixth in the standings with a 37.375.
Toth's top finish came on the balance beam, where she tied for 19th with a 9.600. She tied for 22nd in the floor exercise with a 9.675. She placed 38th on the bars with a 8.725 and 40th on the vault with a 9.375.
"Honestly, I just feel amazing," Toth said. "It's been an incredible experience. Hopefully not once in a lifetime, but that's kind of what it felt like. The support of my teammates being here, and Tia being here, obviously, has been absolutely amazing."
The sixth-place showing from Toth ensured both Blugolds competing earned postseason All-America status.
"I'm kind of speechless, honestly," DeZiel said. "It feels great. We don't have very many athletes that train all around, and these two come into the gym every day and they're the last ones on the events. So very well deserving. They both earned it and they did their routines that they needed to today to be able to have two All-Americans and a national champion."
