Eboni Jackson wins All-Around title, Warriors break multiple school, personal records
Reagan Johnson / Winonan
The Winona State University gymnastics team ended its season on Friday by scoring the best score in program history, a 191.650, and finished fourth at the NCGA National Championship at The College at Brockport State University of New York.
UW-La Crosse won the team national championship for the second year in a row with a score of 193.650. Brockport placed second beating out UW-Whitewater 193.00-192.925.
Winona State head coach Beckie Rolbiecki said she was pleased with the outcome of the meet.
“It couldn’t have been a better day,” Rolbiecki said. “What a wonderful way to end the careers for the seniors, to bring them to the national tournament and go out in record-breaking style.”
The Warriors broke a score of 190 for the second time ever in program history and beat the previous Winona State record of 190.075 set at the Midwest Championship in 2002. The Warriors also broke event records on floor and bars.
On floor, the team scored a 48.875 to top the previous record set in 1997. On uneven bars, the Warriors scored over 48 for the first time with a 48.050 beating the previous program record of 47.575 set last year at the WIAC Championship.
Rolbiecki said she was unaware the team had broken the school record.
“When they showed me the final score I didn’t realize immediately that it was a school record. What I immediately realized was that was well beyond my dream of what we could possibly put on the floor at the national meet,” Rolbiecki said.
Sophomore Eboni Jackson scored the best All-Around score in program history, a 38.800 and became a national champion in the All-Around. Tying for second behind Jackson was UW-La Crosse’s Samantha Wickamp and UW-Whitewater’s Katie Fiorill with scores of 38.675. Jackson scored a 9.50 on the floor exercise, a 9.725 on both the vault and balance beam and 9.600 on the uneven bars.
Rolbiecki said Jackson’s effort was evident throughout the night.
“That girl was giving her all for the team,” Rolbiecki said.
Rolbiecki explained how she told the All-Arounders they wouldn’t be able to place in the All-Around because they did not qualify through regions, but if you put All-Arounders within your team they can, in fact, qualify for the All-Around competition. According Rolbiecki not knowing this took the pressure of Jackson and allowed her give her all for the team score, which ended up earning her that National title.
Seniors Brooke Hiestand and Olivia Cattelino also had strong performances at the national meet. Hiestand recorded the best individual score by a Warrior in any event in program history when she scored a 9.900 on the floor exercise and finished second in the event. This score beats the previous record of 9.875, which was set by Annemarie Green in 1997.
Rolbiecki said Hiestand’s routine shocked her.
“That was the most flawless beautiful routine I’ve ever seen her do,” Rolbiecki said. “When we saw that 9.900 score I grabbed her and we hugged and cried. I’m so happy that happened for her because it was a dream of hers to take that record down.”
Cattelino broke the program record on the uneven bars with a 9.800 score, breaking sophomore teammate Katie Pipp’s record of 9.700. Pipp also topped her previous recorded scoring a 9.725 on the event.
On Saturday, the gymnasts Pipp, Donaldson, Jackson and Hiestand went on to compete in the individual event portion of the championship.
Pipp tied for fifth on the uneven bars breaking her personal record from the previous day scoring a 9.750.
Rolbiecki said that Pipp has been struggling with a serious back injury all season.
“For her to come through all that and fight through all that and then put out back to back 9.7 plus performances was the coolest thing ever,” Rolbiecki said.
Seniors Donaldson and Hiestand ended their careers on the podium. Donaldson scored a 9.625 on vault to tie for eighth, while Hiestand also tied for eighth on the floor with a score of 9.750.
Jackson and Pipp earned first team All-American honors and Donaldson and Hiestand received second team All-American honors.
Hiestand also awarded Academic All-American honors by NCGA, while Rolbiecki was named the NCGA Coach of the Year in addition to her WIAC Coach of the Year honor.
“Just to be considered I felt was a great honor,” Rolbiecki said. “It was a very humbling thing and just an amazing cap to an already amazing year but my award wouldn’t be what it was if it wasn’t for the kids making me look awfully good. They did their job so they earned this for me. I’ve never been so proud to be a Winona State Warrior.”
