Hooper Ties for First on Vault at NCGA Championships; Clausen Second on Uneven Bars

For Immediate Release: Saturday, March 29, 2008

Cortland, N.Y. – University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Gabi Hooper captured her second consecutive National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) vault title Saturday afternoon at the NCGA Championships in Corey Gymnasium in the Park Center at SUNY-Cortland. Hooper tied for first with UW-Whitewater's Justine Weyer with a score of 9.675.

Hooper tied for first on the vault in 2007 with teammate Jackie LaFleur. LaFleur placed sixth on the vault Saturday (9.600) for her third career All-America accolade. Along with tying for first on the vault last year, she was fourth on the vault in 2006. LaFleur finished 14th on the balance beam (9.025) Saturday.

Hooper also placed second on the balance beam Saturday afternoon (9.700) to earn her fourth career NCGA All-America honor. She was second on the floor exercise last season.

UW-L's Mackenzie Howard earned her third career All-America award Saturday after tying for third on the balance beam (9.675). She was fifth on the floor exercise in 2007. Howard tied for 10th in the all-around (37.650) Friday night to earn All-America honors.

Kasey Clausen picked up her fourth career NCGA honor Saturday as she placed second on the uneven parallel bars (9.700). Clausen, who also finished 11th on the balance beam (9.150) Saturday, finished second on the uneven parallel bars, third on the vault and third in the all-around at the 2005 national championships.

The top-six finishers in each event Saturday earn NCGA First Team All-America honors while the seventh through 12th-place finishers earn NCGA Second Team All-America recognition.

UW-L captured its 12th NCGA Championship March 28 at SUNY-Cortland. The Eagles finished with a team score of 189.050 while SUNY-Brockport placed second with a score of 188.425 and SUNY-Cortland was third at 188.375. Ursinus College (Pa.) placed fourth (188.050) while UW-Whitewater was fifth (187.200) and Winona State University (Minn.) sixth (185.625).

It is UW-L's seventh national title in the last eight years and ninth in the last 12 seasons. The Eagles' 12 overall national crowns are the most in NCGA history.

Head coach Barb Gibson, who was named the 2008 NCGA Co-Coach of the Year along with Jeff Schepers of Ursinus College (Pa.), has led UW-L to all 12 of its national titles in her 23 seasons. She has also guided the Eagles to 16 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championships.

UW-L set single-season highs on the vault (47.400), balance beam (47.600) and floor exercise (47.550) Friday night. The Eagles' team score of 189.050 was also a season-high.

Along with Howard finishing in a tie for 10th in the all-around (37.650) Friday, LaFleur was 13th (37.000).

For complete individual results from Saturday, click here.

For complete team results from Friday, click here.