La Crosse, Wis. -- The UW-Whitewater gymnastics team dropped a dual at UW-La Crosse by a slim margin Friday, 192.625-192.450. The Warhawks are ranked third in Division III while the Eagles are second in the team rankings according to RoadToNationals. 

The tight dual came down to the wire. The Warhawks opened the meet on the uneven bars securing a top 20 team total on the apparatus - 48.250. Paige Magel (Cary, Ill./Prairie Ridge) and Caroline Saenz (Houston, Texas/Cy-Fair) led the way, each claiming a share of bronze with routines scoring 9.725. Jane Heffernan (Galway, Ireland/Jesus & Mary Secondary School) added a 9.7 to finish fifth followed by Elaine Copeland's (Arlington, Texas/University Prep) 9.65 and a 9.45 from Gracie Talley (Collierville, Tenn./Briarcrest Christian). 

Juliette Rider (San Antonio, Texas/Acellus Academy) paced UWW on the vault in the second rotation. Her 9.725 on the apparatus was good for gold. Sophia Spadafora (9.6), Siena Vavala (Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada/King City Secondary School) (9.6), Maliyah Pound (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park) (9.5) and Danielle Dudziak (Lorain, Ohio/Amherst Steele) (9.375) rounded out the scoring five. 

Rider kept it going on the floor exercise. The freshman secured her second gold of the meet with a fantastic routine scoring 9.825. Heffernan finished third with a 9.725 while Copeland tied for fourth with a 9.675. Dudziak added a 9.65 and Magel posted a 9.525 for a top-20 team total of 48.400. 

UWW tallied another 48 on the balance beam led by Rider's 9.675 that tied for fourth. Magel (9.6), Spadafora (9.6), Kristen Swiebocki (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) (9.575) and Ashnaya Gupta (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) (9.55) rounded out the scoring five. 

UW-Whitewater will put the finishing touches on their regular season campaign with a home meet against Hamline University on February 28. The Warhawks will recognize the 2026 senior class along with Warhawks that earned All-America in Academics honors from the NCGA last season. The dual is set to begin at 4 PM. 

The 2026 WIAC Championship/NCGA West Regional is slated for March 7 in Winona, Minnesota. Tickets must be purchased in advance with no cash accepted at the door. Visit the championship webpage for more information.