17x national champions | 23x conference champions …€¦ · for the latest information on uwl...

12017 UW-LA CROSSE WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS

@UWLgymnastics @UWLgymnastics@UWLgymnastics

University ofwisconsin -

LA CROSSEGYMNAST I CS

Media Guide2017

1 7 X N A T I O N A L C H A M P I O N S | 2 3 X C O N F E R E N C E C H A M P I O N S

2017 UW-LA CROSSE WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS2

ADDITIONAL 2017 STAFFJenna Matz - Assistant CoachAli Berry - Assistant CoachDeanna Barmore - Assistant CoachJess Herrmann - Assistant CoachCarly Kiesow - Assistant CoachNicole Wangler - Assistant CoachCatherine Wilson - Student Manager

KASEY CRAWFORDH E A D C O A C H

Kasey Crawford begins her first season as interim head coach for the UW-La Crosse gymnastics team in 2016-17. She completed her eighth season as an assistant coach for the Eagles in 2015-16, earning the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) West Region Assistant Coach of the Year award after helping lead UWL to its second straight national title March 18 in Brockport, New York.

She was named the 2011-12 and 2012-13 NCGA North Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year as UWL placed third at the 2012 NCGA Championships and second in 2013. Crawford was a four-year letter winner and two-year team captain at UWL, competing from 2004-08. A member of three NCGA Championship teams (2005, 2006, 2008), Crawford earned five career NCGA All-America honors. She earned All-America accolades in the all-around (2005), uneven parallel bars (2005 and 2008); vault (2005) and balance beam (2008).

Named the 2007-08 WIsconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Scholar-Athlete, Crawford earned three career all-conference honors at UWL. She placed fourth on the vault at the 2005 WIAC Championship while finishing fifth on the uneven parallel bars in 2007 and sixth in 2008. She was a two-time WIAC Athlete of the Week selection. Crawford was named to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll all four years and was a 2007-08 CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) Academic All-District Second Team selection. In Crawford’s eight years as an assistant coach, UWL has won five NCGA championships and four WIAC crowns. UWL gymnasts have earned a total of 67 NCGA All-America honors in the last eight seasons.

Crawford completed her fourth year as an assistant sports performance coach in UWL’s Sports Performance Center and as an instructor in UWL’s Exercise Sport Science Department in 2015-16. Crawford is a certified USAG (USA Gymnastics) Level 10 judge. She and her husband, Mike, have two children, Kinsley and Keaton.


DAY DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIMEFriday December 2 vs. Winona State (Exhibition) La Crosse, WI 6:30pmFriday January 13 vs. Hamline University La Crosse, WI 6:30pmFriday January 20 at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI 6:00pmSaturday January 28 at Lindenwood University (Triantular) St. Charles, MO 2:00pmFriday February 3 vs. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh La Crosse, WI 6:30pmFriday February 10 vs. University of Wisconsin - Stout La Crosse, WI 6:30pmSunday February 19 at Illinois State University Normal, IL 11:00amFriday February 24 vs. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater La Crosse, WI 6:30pmThursday March 2 at Winona State University Winona, MN 6:30pmFriday March 10 at Gustavus Adolphus College St. Peter, MN 6:30pmFriday March 17 WIAC Championships / NCGA West Regionals Winona, MN 5:00pmFriday March 31 - April 1 NCGA Team and All Around Championships Menomonie, WI 5:00pm / 4:00pm

SENIORSKARI WILLETT, ELSA SPITZMUELLER, ANA GINTER, & SAVANA KETTNER

2017 SCHEDULE


ROSTER NAME YEAR EVENTS HOMETOWN(LAST SCHOOL) Gabby Aguilar Sophomore All-Around Austin, TX (St. Michael’s Catholic Academy)

Jessica Ahrens Freshman All Around Versailles, OH (H.S.)

Dani Barmore Sophomore All-Around Omaha, NE (Millard West)

Ally Blixt Freshman V, BB, FX Maplewood, MN (Roseville Area)

Amy Enright Junior All Around Lake Elmo, MN (Stillwater)

Savannah Farrell Freshman All Around White Bear Lake, MN (H.S.)

Ana Ginter Senior V, UPB, BB Davie, FL (Western)

Brittany Gutzkow Freshman V, UPB, FX Cedar, MN (Pact Charter School)

Allison Jahns Sophomore All Around Hampshire, IL (Forest Trail Academy)

Emily Janes Freshman All Around Andover, MN (H.S.)

Tyler Jeschke Sophomore All Around Milwaukee, WI (West Allis Nathan Hale)

Brooke Kachinsky Freshman All Around New Lenox, IL (H.S.)

Savana Kettner Senior V, BB, FX Fargo, ND (Davies)

Monique Muehlethaler Junior UPB, BB, FX Green Bay, WI (East)

Abby Ostrovsky Sophomore All Around Vernon Hills, IL (H.S.)

Leah Spankowski Junior V, BB, FX Wauwatosa, WI (East)

Elsa Spitzmueller Senior BB, FX Lino Lakes, MN (Centennial)

Hailey Warner Junior V, UPB, FX Owasso, OK (H.S.)

Samantha Wiekamp Junior All Around Clear Lake, SD (Deuel)

Emiko WIlks Sophomore All Around Corrales, NM (Bosque)

Kari Willett Senior All Around Gainesville, VA (Patriot)

Lauren Wilson Junior All Around Summit, MO (Raymore-Peculiar)

2016-2017

2017

EAG

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ROSTER NAME YEAR EVENTS HOMETOWN(LAST SCHOOL) Gabby Aguilar Sophomore All-Around Austin, TX (St. Michael’s Catholic Academy)

Jessica Ahrens Freshman All Around Versailles, OH (H.S.)

Dani Barmore Sophomore All-Around Omaha, NE (Millard West)

Ally Blixt Freshman V, BB, FX Maplewood, MN (Roseville Area)

Amy Enright Junior All Around Lake Elmo, MN (Stillwater)

Savannah Farrell Freshman All Around White Bear Lake, MN (H.S.)

Ana Ginter Senior V, UPB, BB Davie, FL (Western)

Brittany Gutzkow Freshman V, UPB, FX Cedar, MN (Pact Charter School)

Allison Jahns Sophomore All Around Hampshire, IL (Forest Trail Academy)

Emily Janes Freshman All Around Andover, MN (H.S.)

Tyler Jeschke Sophomore All Around Milwaukee, WI (West Allis Nathan Hale)

Brooke Kachinsky Freshman All Around New Lenox, IL (H.S.)

Savana Kettner Senior V, BB, FX Fargo, ND (Davies)

Monique Muehlethaler Junior UPB, BB, FX Green Bay, WI (East)

Abby Ostrovsky Sophomore All Around Vernon Hills, IL (H.S.)

Leah Spankowski Junior V, BB, FX Wauwatosa, WI (East)

Elsa Spitzmueller Senior BB, FX Lino Lakes, MN (Centennial)

Hailey Warner Junior V, UPB, FX Owasso, OK (H.S.)

Samantha Wiekamp Junior All Around Clear Lake, SD (Deuel)

Emiko WIlks Sophomore All Around Corrales, NM (Bosque)

Kari Willett Senior All Around Gainesville, VA (Patriot)

Lauren Wilson Junior All Around Summit, MO (Raymore-Peculiar)

2017

EAG

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GABBY AGUILARS O P H O M O R E

JESSICA AHRENSF R E S H M A N

DANI BARMORES O P H O M O R E

SAVANNAH FARRELLF R E S H M A N

ANA GINTERS E N I O R

BRITTANYGUTZKOW

F R E S H M A N

TYLER JESCHKES O P H O M O R E

BROOKE KACHINSKY

F R E S H M A N

SAVANA KETTNERS E N I O R

ALLY BLIXTF R E S H M A N

ALLISON JAHNSS O P H O M O R E

MONIQUEMUEHLETHALER

J U N I O R

LEAH SPANKOWSKIJ U N I O R

ELSA SPITZMUELLER

S E N I O R

HAILEY WARNERJ U N I O R

SAM WIEKAMPJ U N I O R

AMY ENRIGHTJ U N I O R

EMILY JANESF R E S H M A N

ABBY OSTROVSKYS O P H O M O R E

EMIKO WILKSS O P H O M O R E

KARI WILLETTS E N I O R

UWLATHLETICS.COM For the latest information on UWL Women’s Gymnastics, including stats, standings, notes, photos, video, and bios, visit the official website of La Crosse Athletics at www.UWLathletics.com

MEDIA INTERVIEWSNon-post meet interview requests for athletes and coaches must be arranged through Kim Blum in the Athletics Office. All requests should be submitted a minimum of 24 hours in advance.

LAUREN WILSONJ U N I O R


GABBY AGUILARSOPHOMORE

FAVORITE EVENT AND WHY: Bars because I miss it the most when I can’t do it.

DREAM JOB: Executive producer of an award winning television show WHAT’S THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING ON THE UWL GYMNASTICS TEAM:The best part about being on the UWL Gymnastics team is being surrounded by gymnasts and coaches that only want the very best for you, people that will help you achieve whatever you set your mind to.

ACADEMICS: Communication Studies (Broadcast and Digital Media)

JESSICA AHRENSFRESHMAN

FAVORITE EVENT AND WHY: Beam because there is such an adrenaline rush and the feeling when you hit a skill dead on… nothing like it

WHAT CORE VALUE HAVE YOU LEARNED BY BEING A GYMNAST AND WHY: Toughness… I am able to endure injury, endure the frustrations of school

and gymnastics simultaneously, endure homesickness while continually pushing through with a positive mindset and an “I got this” attitude

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS OTHER THAN WITTICH HALL AND WHY: Red Mango because they have the best smoothies

ACADEMICS: Exercise sport science pre-professional track major and biology minor.


ALLY BLIXTFRESHMAN

FAVORITE EVENT AND WHY: Floor because I love to dance

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS OTHER THAN WITTICH HALL AND WHY: The 5th floor study room in Eagle because the view of the bluffs is amazing!

IF YOU COULD GIVE A YOUNGER GYMNAST ADVICE, WHAT WOULD IT BE:Set big goals & don’t stop until you get there

ACADEMICS: Exercise sport science pre-professional major and nutrition minor.

DANI BARMORESOPHOMORE

WHAT CORE VALUE HAVE I LEARNED BY BEING A GYMNAST AND WHY: Humourous: I always took gymnastics very seriously and sometimes

I would lose sight of the reason why I was doing gymnastics in the first place. Coming to college allowed me to find my passion for this sport again and be able

to have fun in everything I do.

IF YOU COULD GIVE A YOUNGER GYMNAST ADVICE, WHAT WOULD IT BE:Do what you love and love what you do.

WHAT’S THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING IN COLLEGE: The independence and making friends

ACADEMICS: Physics/engineering dual degree.


SAVANNAH FARRELLFRESHMAN

WHAT CORE VALUE HAVE YOU LEARNED BY BEING A GYMNAST AND WHY?:Dedication and mental toughness because the sport depends on those values

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS OTHER THAN WITTICH HALL AND WHY: My dorm room because it’s my place to relax

TALENTS/HOBBIES OUTSIDE OF GYMNASTICS: Drawing/painting

ACADEMICS: Marketing Major

AMY ENRIGHTJUNIOR

DREAM JOB: Research how we can use microbes to develop more environmentally friendly products & practices

WHAT’S THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING ON THE UWL GYMNASTICS TEAM: Becoming a family who support one another in and out of the gym.

IF YOU COULD GIVE A YOUNGER GYMNAST ADVICE, WHAT WOULD IT BE: Take any set-backs as a challenge and an opportunity to grow, and always keep in mind what you love about the sport to use as motivation!

ACADEMICS: Microbiology major with Spanish minor.


ANA GINTERSENIOR

FAVORITE EVENT AND WHY: My favorite event is beam because I like the feeling of being in the zone and

blocking everything else out.

DREAM JOB: talent manager for an artist or band

WHAT CORE VALUE HAVE YOU LEARNED BY BEING A GYMNAST AND WHY: Hard work because in order to achieve the goals you set, you have to give it

everything you’ve got.

ACADEMICS: Marketing major and sociology minor.

BRITTANY GUTZKOWFRESHMAN

FUN FACT: I’m a triplet

WHY I GOT INTO GYMNASTICS/HOW LONG:My mom put all three of us in gymnastics when we were 5 but I was the only one who fell in love with it. That was 14 years ago.

BEST PART OF COLLEGE: All of the friends you become close with.

ACADEMICS: Education major (middle childhood-early adolescence education) with English education minor.


ALLISON JAHNSSOPHOMORE

FAVORITE EVENT AND WHY:Bars because I love releases and feeling like I’m flying!

DREAM JOB: Physical Therapist

WHAT’S THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING ON THE UWL GYMNASTICS TEAM:How supportive and open everyone is, it’s like a huge family that I am so proud to be a part of. Everyone truly cares about each other

ACADEMICS: Exercise and sports science pre-professional major.

EMILY JANESFRESHMAN

FAVORITE EVENT AND WHY:Beam, because it makes me feel confident and graceful

DREAM JOB: sports psychologist

WHAT CORE VALUE HAVE YOU LEARNED BY BEING A GYMNAST AND WHY: Hard work, because in order to be able to be able to accomplish your goals it

takes a lot of hard work in order to get to where you want to be

ACADEMICS: Psychology major.


TYLER JESCHKESOPHOMORE

DREAM JOB: Doctor

WHAT LIFE LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED BY DOING GYMNASTICS: Perseverance FOR SURE

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS OTHER THAN WITTICH HALL AND WHY: Centennial or Cartwright because they have food, people, and

places to study

ACADEMICS: Psychology major and Spanish minor.

BROOKE KACHINSKYFRESHMAN

FAVORITE EVENT AND WHY:Bars, I love swinging on things and bars is the event that I get to do that

OTHER SPORTS THAT YOU DID WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER (OR OLDER) AND FOR HOW MANY YEARS: Softball for 7 years

WHAT LIFE LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED BY DOING GYMNASTICS:That you have to work for what you want. Not everything is handed to you so you have to go out and take what you want.

ACADEMICS: Biology major.


SAVANA KETTNERSENIOR

DREAM JOB: Pediatric physical therapist

WHAT LIFE LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED BY DOING GYMNASTICS: Time management, teamwork, leadership skills, and to never give up.

WHAT’S THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING ON THE UWL GYMNASTICS TEAM: Having a team and knowing that they want you to succeed in everything you do. They want the best for me inside and outside the gym and it means a lot that I have an immediate ‘family’ I can turn to for support.

ACADEMICS: Exercise sport science-pre-professional major.

MO MUEHLETHALERJUNIOR

DREAM JOB: traveling the world to rate top tourist places

BEST PART BEING APART OF UWL GYMNASTICS: Being apart of a team that is more like one big family.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS OTHER THAN WITTICH AND WHY: 3rd floor lounge area in Cartwright because it is a quite area to

study but you can go down stairs to get coffee and snacks

ACADEMICS: Therapeutic recreation major.


ABBY OSTROVSKYSOPHOMORE

FAVORITE EVENT: Bars. I find it the most unique especially when you think about swinging/releasing your body around a bar.

DREAM JOB : Getting my PhD and being a Child Psychologist

WHATS THE BEST PART ABOUT COLLEGE: You finally are able to do things for yourself and find out what type of person you are supposed to be.

ACADEMICS: Psychology Major

LEAH SPANKOWSKIJUNIOR

FUN FACT: I was born in China

DREAM JOB: Work for Adidas or Patagonia in their marketing department

WHAT CORE VALUE HAVE YOU LEARNED BY BEING A GYMNAST AND WHY: I’ve learned dedication and commitment. I think that its important to stick to some things even if it gets challenging and to push through. Gymnastics has been a big part of my life and has helped shape me into who I am today.

ACADEMICS: Marketing major and accounting minor.


ELSA SPITZMUELLERSENIOR

FAVORITE EVENT AND WHY: Floor because it reminds me of why I love the sport. It’s easy to lose yourself in a routine.

DREAM JOB: Occupational therapist in an elementary school

WHAT CORE VALUE HAVE YOU LEARNED BY BEING A GYMNAST AND WHY:I think one of the things gymnastics has helped me with is not taking myself too seriously. It has allowed me to fail and learn to get back up and push through whatever life has thrown my way. I think it has helped with the optimistic/positive attitude that I have.

ACADEMICS: Therapeutic recreation major.

HAILEY WARNERJUNIOR

FUN FACT: I know all the words (and corresponding dance moves) to my state song.

WHY YOU GOT INTO GYMNASTICS AND HOW LONG YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE SPORT: I got into gymnastics after being inspired by watching Carly Patterson in the 2004 Olympics. I finally joined a gym when I

was 9, and have been doing competitive gymnastics ever since.

FAVORITE EVENT AND WHY: Floor, there is nothing better than dancing your heart out and also flying through the air!

ACADEMICS: Middle childhood and early adolescent education major with math education minor.


SAMANTHA WIEKAMPJUNIOR

WHY YOU GOT INTO GYMNASTICS AND HOW LONG YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE SPORT: I used to hang on door knobs and I would put my arms over the end

of the recliner and swing back and forth when my dad sat in it. My sister saw a sign for Dakota Gold Gymnastics and told my mom she should put me into

gymnastics because of me swinging on things so much.

DREAM JOB: I want to own a gym one day.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS OTHER THAN WITTICH AND WHY: Cartwright…which is probably good since we will be spending a lot of time

there starting next year

ACADEMICS: Marketing and psychology majors.

EMIKO WILKSSOPHOMORE

FAVORITE EVENT AND WHY: Beam: Beam has always been one of my favorite events and has also been the event I have made the most progress on mentally throughout my gymnastics career. It is the perfect combination of grace and power and requires complete confidence and focus.

DREAM JOB: Working for a movie industry doing animation/drawing and screen writing.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS OTHER THAN WITTICH HALL AND WHY: My dorm room because it is the place where I can focus the most when it comes to studying and feel the most comfortable. I also have some pretty stellar roommates.

ACADEMICS: English and political science majors, with art (graphic design) minor.


KARI WILLETTSENIOR

FAVORITE EVENT AND WHY: My favorite event is beam. There’s nothing quite like the feeling you get after nailing a beam routine - it’s exhilarating!

TALENTS/HOBBIES OUTSIDE OF GYMNASTICS: I’m an active choral singer; I sing in UWL’s Choral Union and will be traveling to perform with them at Carnegie Hall in June!

DREAM JOB: Physical therapist for a Broadway cast

ACADEMICS: Exercise and sport science pre-professional major and psychology minor.

LAUREN WILSONJUNIOR

FUN FACT: I work at the library on campus

DREAM JOB: Somehow protect the earth from global warming. So pretty much save the world

WHAT LIFE LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED BY DOING GYMNASTICS: I’ve learned that you’re not always going to be perfect the first time

you try something new, but that doesn’t mean that you’re not good at it. If you keep trying, you might end up surprising yourself.

ACADEMICS: Recreation management major and environmental studies minor.


HOME HOMEsweetThe Eagle gymnasts are receiving a new gymnastics training facility beginning August 2017. The new facility will be located in Cartwright Center and will have 18,300 square feet of the finest gymnastics training equipment. The training facility has Resilite pit landings on all 4 apparatus, 4 Elite balance beams, 2 TAC/10 LZT Vaults, 3 Elite Uneven Bars, 1 tumble track, 1 trampoline w/ spotting rig, and a channel bar system. UW-La Crosse’s gymnasts are truly receiving the best Division III facility in the Midwest!

ATHLETICtrainingThe athletic training program at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse was the first accredited athletic training

program in the state of Wisconsin, and offers one of the most competitive, in-depth and hands-on athletic training programs in the country. The Athletic Training Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic

Training Education (CAATE). The athletic training program has gained an excellent reputation for involving their athletic training students in various year-round athletic training opportunities. 100% of our 35 graduates who took

the BOC Exam in the previous three years passed. Our student’s first time pass rate for the last three years on the BOC Examination is 97.14% (34 out of 35)!!


225 ALL AMERICAN TITLESFive Eagles earned 12 All-America honors in 2016, brining the total to 225.

OUTSTANDING SEASONS

Kasey Crawford has been helping to lead the Eagles to success in and out of the gym for the

past 8 seasons.

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23CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLESIn Crawford’s eight years as an assistant coach, UWL won five NCGA championships and four WIAC crowns.

67ALL-AMERICAN HONORSThe Eagles are known to take home the gold. UWL gymnasts have earned a

total of 67 NCGA All-America honors in the last eight seasons.


True Grit is a valid trait that people possess to varying degrees. It can be explained many ways:

• Someone’s ability to persist despite the presence of many challenges and obstacles• Unwavering purpose and resilience• Tenacity and conviction to your beliefs• Passion and perseverance for long-term goals

Scholars attempt to define it. Researchers attempt to measure it. Psychologists attempt to analyze it. Millions attempt to replicate it. Most fail. Not here. Here, True Grit is an attitude. You don’t rely on luck. You work hard. Period. True Grit is a descriptor of who you are…as a athlete, yes. But also who you are in class, at your job, and with your family. It’s not a sometime thing. It’s an alltime thing. A permanent narrative about Eagle student-athletes. The following attributes describe our athletes here at UW-La Crosse:

• Tirelessness • Respect • Unity • Enthusiasm Be the very definition of True Grit. Embrace the concept. We use this term widely in our program. And we will recognize those who display it.

Do you know what true grit is?You should. You have it.

• Gratitude• Responsibility• Integrity• Toughness


You should. You have it.Champions.

In School. In sport. in life.

17x national champions | 23x conference champions …€¦ · for the latest information on uwl...

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