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 Sophomore Michelle Kulovitz won her fourth career USAG All-America award (and second this year) with her fifth-place performance on vault Saturday. (Wayne Tilcock, Davis Enterprise) |
April 15, 2006
ITHACA, N.Y. - Sophomore Michelle Kulovitz placed fifth on vault to earn her second All-America award in three days, leading the UC Davis foursome of gymnasts at the USAG Collegiate National Event Championships at Cornell's Newman Arena Saturday. Kulovitz, who had earlier won the USAG individual all-around title as part of Thursday's competition, scored 9.675 in her only event of the day.
Kulovitz edged teammate Julia Richards, who scored 9.638 on vault. This is the third USAG All-America award for Richards, who won vault and floor honors last season. Kulovitz took home vault and beam honors and Richards won vault and floor accolades in 2005.
Freshman Katie Reinhardt was the Aggies' only double-event qualifier for Saturday's competition. She placed sixth on bars at 9.075, then just missed the final eight with an 8.800 on balance beam. Senior Mei Ling Clark also advanced on uneven bars, placing eighth with a 8.250 total.
The top eight finishers on each event during Thursday's team preliminaries advanced to Saturday's event championships. The top eight all-arounders on Thursday were issued All-America certification.
Only four gymnasts finished in the top eight in more than one event Saturday, including three from William & Mary. Jess Randall won a share of the floor exercise title and added a seventh-place showing on balance beam. Her Tribe teammate, Stevie Waldman, placed fifth on both beam and floor, while Christina Padilla went second on bars and seventh on vault. Leslie Gregory of Cornell placed fourth on floor and tied for eighth on vault.
UC Davis finished second in Friday's team final to Texas Woman's University, giving head coach Ray Goldbar his third career runner-up finish at the national meet since taking over the Aggie women's program in 1989. The USAG Collegiate Championship, which features programs offering a limited amount of athletics scholarships, represents the swan song for the veteran coach. Goldbar announced his retirement prior to the start of the 2006 season.
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2006 USA GYMNASTICS COLLEGIATE NATIONALS - EVENT FINALS
Hosted by Cornell University
VAULT - 1. Meredith Smith, Centenary, 9.7500; 2. Colleen Davis, Cornell, 9.725; 3. Sarah Sullivan, Seattle Pacific, 9.713; 4. Kristin Bryant, Seattle Pacific, 9.700; 5. Michelle Kulovitz, UC Davis, 9.675; 6. Julia Richards, UC Davis, 9.638; 7. Christina Padilla, William & Mary, 9.600; 8 (tie). Leslie Gregory, Cornell; Sari Tepper, Cornell, 9.575; 10. Lorena Johnson, Rutgers, 9.363; 11. Brittany Parker, 9.113; 12. Kia Westbrook, Texas Woman's, 9.013.
UNEVEN BARS - 1. Bethany Rehm, Texas Woman's, 9.725; 2. Christina Padilla, William & Mary, 9.675; 3. Brisa Fuentes, Texas Woman's, 9.575; 4. Janelle Greene, 9.550; 5. Stevie Waldman, William & Mary, 9.425; 6. Katie Reinhardt, UC Davis, 9.075; 7. Amber McMeans, Texas Woman's, 9.050; 8. Mei Ling Clark, UC Davis, 8.250.
BALANCE BEAM - 1. Courtney Arno, Texas Woman's, 9.750; 2. Lorena Johnson, Rutgers, 9.700; 3. Casey Santangelo, Rutgers, 9.675; 4. Noelle Moore, Temple, 9.575; 5 (tie). Stevie Waldman, William & Mary; Gina Roselle, Rutgers, 9.550; 7. Jess Randall, William & Mary, 9.525; 8. Andrea Dochney, William & Mary, 9.025; 9. Katie Reinhardt, UC Davis, 8.800; 10. Julia Cornelius, Centenary, 8.250.
FLOOR EXERCISE - 1 (tie). Jess Randall, William & Mary; Brittany Gibbs, William & Mary, 9.775; 3. Megan Gilbert, Cornell, 9.750; 4. Leslie Gregory, Cornell, 9.725; 5. Kristina Menne, Centenary, 9.700; 6. Kari Kucera, Cornell, 9.675; 7. Beth Fittery, Rutgers, 9.600; 8. Nicole Poling, Texas Woman's, 9.550; 9. Noelle Moore, Temple, 9.100.
