The UW Oshkosh gymnastics team snapped its three meet losing streak by recording its second highest score of the season with a 185.60-179.00 victory over UW-Stout at home on Friday, Feb. 19. The Titans posted its highest score of all time at home against Whitewater last week and head coach Lauren Karnitz said thats all they needed for momentum in the meet against Stout. That was a hard concept to grasp because we really did a phenomenal job, Karnitz said. So to come back and get a win for our efforts was awesome. The meet against the Blue Devils was Senior Night for five Titans. Two of the five participants posted top three finishes. Karnitz said two seniors, Krystal Walker and Emily Ryan, had great nights to close out their final meets at home. As a whole I think it was a great meet, Karnitz said. Barb Bass, who was an exhibitioner, did a great job on bars and beam. So I think they had a great Senior Night. Walker won the all-around again as she edged out two girls from Stout with a total score of 37.400. Despite having to compete against two girls in the all-around, Walker said her preparation isnt any different. I pretty much know who my competition is, Walker said. We know about each other and kind of expect it. Walker scored a 9.525 for first place in floor exercise and was followed by freshman Bailey Finin at 9.500. UWO secured its second top finisher on the uneven bars with sophomore Kasandra Stamopoulos scoring a season best 9.425. It was the first time Stamopoulos won bars and she said it was a shock when it actually happened. It was a surreal moment, Stamopoulos said. It was definitely satisfying and just knowing all my hard work has been paying off. In order to place first and set a personal best, Stamopoulos said it was all about confidence throughout the season. Ryan followed Stamopoulos with her highest score at the meet and a tie for her career high on the bars at 9.400 and Walker came in third with a score of 9.375. Ryans second event was a fourth place tie on vault with a score of 9.025. Walker concluded her all-around with a second place finish on balance beam with a score of 9.500 for a season high and scored nine on the vault for sixth place. The nine-time All-American Walker said her time at Oshkosh has been a blast. I will remember competing at home and finishing last on floor and having our home crowd being so supportive, Walker said. And our last meet when everyone was cheering, thank you seniors was nice. The Titans last meet of the regular season is on Friday, Feb. 26 in Eau Claire at 6:30 p.m. Theres a lot of confidence right now moving forward into Eau Claire this next weekend, Karnitz said. I have high hopes that theyre going to keep going.
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Oshkosh gymnastics beat UW-Stout at home
February 24, 2016
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