Sophomore
Kara Welsh (Plainfield, Ill./Central) headlined a contingent of four University of Wisconsin-Whitewater gymnasts that earned All-America honors by finishing among the top eight at the 2023 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Division III National Championships Saturday. Welsh claimed the vault title while
Sarah Knetzke (Ozark, Mo./Springfield Catholic) was the national runner-up on the beam,
Kelsey Kollhoff (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg) captured bronze on the floor and
Richella Velarmino (Bonney Lake, Wash./John R. Rogers) was sixth on the bars. Additionally.
Taiya Stelmachowski (Plainfield, Ill./Central),
Meg McGinley (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) and
Faith Mylin (Elgin, Ill./Harvest Christian Academy) were recognized as NCGA Academic All-Americans at the meet hosted by Winona State University.
Welsh is is the fifth Warhawk gymnast to claim the national title on the vault. Her score of 9.825, the third-highest individual vault score in program history, topped the competition to secure UW-Whitewater's seventh vault title in program history. Welsh is now a three-time All-American after tying for third on the event a year ago.
On the balance beam, Knetzke posted a score of 9.8 to finish as the national runner-up. That mark is a top five score in the program record book. The junior is a two-time All-American in the event with a national title on the apparatus in 2022.
Kollhoff, a junior, became a three-time All-American with a bronze in her signature event, the floor exercise. Kollhoff's 9.8 was good for third at the meet and is a top 20 mark in the program history. Last season, she tied for second on the beam and tied for sixth on the bars for a pair of All-America honors.
Valarmino picked up her first All-America honor this season. The sophomore registered a score of 9.675 on the uneven bars to finish sixth.
Mylin (floor),
Carleigh Moore (Oregon, Wis./Oregon) (vault, floor),
Estee Flom (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek) (bars) and
Elaine Copeland (Arlington, Texas/University Prep) (bars) also competed at the 2023 championships Saturday.
Welsh, Knetzke and Kollhoff were all named Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association All-Americans in their respective events earlier this week.
