Warhawks Tie for Second, Brookfield native Fiorilli Wins All-Around Title

2015 Apr 1

Katelyn Mierow, a Brookfield native and member of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater gymnastics team, helped the Warhawks to a national runner-up finish in the 2015 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Division III Championship hosted by UW-La Crosse March 27. Katie Fiorilli (Solon, OH), a sophomore, won the all-around title for the second consecutive season.

The Warhawks tied with Ursinus College with a team total of 191.225, just three-tenths of a point behind UW-La Crosse and fourth best in the program record book. The College at Brockport (N.Y.) was fourth with a total of 190.950 followed by SUNY-Cortland's 187.975 and UW-Stout totaled 187.850. The championship field is determined by the top three finishers at both the east and west regionals.

Fiorilli is the only Warhawk in the history of UW-Whitewater gymnastics to win a national title in the all-around, a feat she has accomplished both seasons of her collegiate career. Her total 38.475 ties for second best in the program record book. Teammate and fellow sophomore Courtney Pickett (Brentwood, TN/Brentwood) finished second in the all-around competition with a total of 38.400, another top ten mark in the UW-Whitewater record book.

The Warhawks opened the championship on the uneven bars. Caroline Holverson (Kenosha, WI/Westosha Central) got UW-Whitewater started on the right foot with a 9.450 to lead off the event. Stephanie Cross (Arizona City, AZ/Casa Grande Union) added a 9.550 and Grayson Esslinger (Oshkosh, WI/Oshkosh West) came in to give the Warhawks a big momentum boost with UW-Whitewater's high score in the event, 9.650. Pickett and Fiorilli rounded out the scoring five for UW-Whitewater with scores of 9.500 and 9.525 respectively.

UW-Whitewater was forced to count falls on the beam in the next rotation. Senior Alexis Williams(Marietta, GA/Blessed Trinity Catholic) performed the best routine of her career to score 9.725 and lead the Warhawks in the event. Pickett's routine scored 9.650 and Fiorilli added a 9.600 as UW-Whitewater totaled 47.050.

After the other five teams put up some big numbers, the Warhawks came out of their bye rotation with a new determination and headed straight for the floor.

UW-Whitewater registered their second-best team floor performance of the season with a total of 48.125, tied for sixth-best in school history. Cici Talcott (Kentwood, MI/East Kentwood) and Pickett tied for top honors with 9.700's in the event. Steffi Heuer (Clarksville, TN/Middle College at APSU) added a 9.625 followed by freshman Lewa Evans (Milwaukee, WI/Whitefish Bay)' 9.575 and Fiorilli's 9.525.

With the Warhawk crowd behind them and a new source of momentum from a great floor series, UW-Whitewater wrapped up the meet with their best event of the evening. Fiorilli anchored the Warhawks on the event and vaulted her way to a 9.825, the top vault in the history of the championship meet and a new school record. Evans stuck her landing for a 9.725. Chloe Rehberg(Cary, IL/Cary-Grove) added a 9.675 followed by Talcott's 9.600 and Pickett's 9.550 for a team total of 48.375 in the event, the best score ever recorded by a group of five Warhawks on the vault.

UW-Whitewater jumped three spots in the standings in the final two events of the night to tie for second. The Warhawks have finished in the top two of the NCGA Championships the last five seasons and have competed in the team finals nine consecutive seasons.