UW-La Crosse 187.675, Hamline University (Minn.) 182.950

La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse gymnastics squad earned a 187.675-182.950 victory over Hamline University (Minn.) Friday night in Mitchell Hall in the season opener for the Eagles.

The Eagles scored 46.375 on the vault; 47.300 on the uneven parallel bars; 46.775 on the balance beam and 47.225 on the floor exercise.  

UWL captured individual titles on all four events.  Abby Ostrovsky led the way with victories on vault (9.450) and bars (9.700), with Amy Enright capturing the floor exercise (9.550) and freshman Ally Blixt winning the balance beam title (9.625) in her first collegiate meet. 

Samantha Wiekamp won the all-around with a score of 36.700, her high finish coming on beam in third (9.575). Dani Barmore was second in the all-around (35.725) and vault (9.400).

Kari Willett took second on beam (9.600) and floor (9.550), with Enright second on bars (9.650).  Lauren Wilson was third on bars (9.550), and Elsa Spitzmueller third on floor (9.550).
 

Friday's win marked the debut of Kasey Crawford as the Eagles head coach, who spent eight years as the UWL assistant coach before taking over the program this season.  "I think it was a great start," said Crawford.  "We has some normal ups and downs, but the talent you see out on the floor is exciting.  It was fun to get our season started at home."

UWL returns to action Friday, January 20 at UW-Eau Claire at 6 p.m.