The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater gymnastics team earned a share of the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association championship, tying with host The College at Brockport, Friday night in Brockport, New York.

team scoring
results of the all-around competition
scores advancing in the four specialties

Whitewater and Brockport tied with 188.05 points, followed by UW-La Crosse at 187.2, Cortland State (NY) 185.55, UW-Eau Claire 183.7, and Ithaca College (NY) 182.65.  The 188.05 is the fifth highest score in the UW-W record book.

UW-W qualified for the NCGA national meet by placing second in the NCGA West Regional in Eau Claire, Wisconsin March 20.  The top three teams in the West Regional were joined by the top three teams in the East Regional in the competition for the national crown. 

UW-W finished second in the national meet in 2011 after third place finishes in 2009 and 2010.  The 2012 championship is the school's first in gymnastics.

The Warhawks led the competition after the third round with 140.3 points, followed by Brockport at 140.15 and defending champion La Crosse with 139.775.  Whitewater's final rotation was on the vault, where UW-W tallied 47.75 points, the third highest total in school history.

Friday's competition also included the all-around gymnasts, with the top ten scores earning NCGA All-America honors.  Whitewater's Katie Thompson (Kingsport, TN/Sullivan South) finished second, the highest finish in the all-around in school history.  Thompson is a three time all-around All-American, with a sixth place finish in 2011 and seventh in 2010.  Whitewater's Mary Kate Young (Lawrenceville, GA/Cullins Hill) placed fourth Friday, her first All-America honor in the all-around category.  Elizabeth Levy of Brockport won the all-around competition with a score of 37.65, followed by Thompson's 37.40, Courtney Mangini of Cortland at 37.25, and Young with 37.225.  It is the second time in school history that two gymnasts have earned All-America recognition in the same meet, the first coming in 2010 with Justine Weyer (fourth) and Thompson.

The top fourteen scores in each of the four specialties Friday advance to the individual championships Saturday.  Whitewater athletes advanced in all four disciplines.  Thompson, Cici Talcott (Kentwood, MI/), Young, and Siri Wischmann (Delano, MN/Delano) will compete in the vault.  Allyse Dieringer (Germantown, WI/Germantown), Thompson, and Cami Gilman (Lees Summit, MO/Lees Summit North) advanced in the uneven parallel bars.  Young and Wischmann will compete on the balance beam Saturday, and Wischmann and Young qualified for the floor exercise finals. 

Young broke the school record with her 9.75 on the balance beam, just ahead of Wischmann's 9.725, which is tied for the second highest score in school history. 

The top six finishers Saturday will be considered NCGA First Team All-Americans, places 7-12 will be second team.