Air Force Academy
Illinois State, Seattle Pacific
Kara Witgen Wins Floor in Season Opener
1/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Jan. 9, 2016
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – Highlighted by a first-place finish on the floor exercise from junior Kara Witgen, the Air Force women's gymnastics team kicked off the 2016 season this evening (Jan. 9) with a team tally of 186.950 at the Air Force Triangular.
Witgen registered a score of 9.750 to share first-place honors on the floor and pace the Falcons to three of the top-five scores in that event. Sophomore Jamie Lewis, who finished fourth on the floor with a score of 9.675, paced Air Force on the vault (fourth, 9.725) and picked up a third-place finish in the all-around (36.975). Sophomore Casey Bell rounded out the Falcons' trio of top-five finishers on the floor exercise, as she tied for fifth with a tally of 9.575.
Senior Sarah Neumann was the Falcons' top finisher on the balance beam, as she finished fifth with a score of 9.525, while freshman Mariana Murphy earned the same score and placement to lead the squad on the uneven bars.
Witgen and Murphy collected additional top-10 finishes on the vault (9.525, 10th tie) and balance beam (9.450, seventh), respectively. Junior Darby Germain placed within the top-10 on two events, scoring a 9.500 to tie for sixth on the uneven bars and a 9.450 to tie for eighth on the floor. Sophomore Chelsea Grimison earned a share of eighth on the vault (9.550), while senior Shannen Kelly rounded out the Falcons' top-10 finishers with a ninth-place score of 9.200 on the beam.
Seattle Pacific scored a 188.750 to edge Illinois State (188.275) for the team title of Air Force's season-opening triangular meet.
Air Force heads to Knoxville, Tenn., next week, when it competes at the Ozone Collegiate Classic on Saturday, Jan. 16.
Players Mentioned
