University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will aim for a second straight title at the 2014 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Gymnastics Championship at UW-Whitewater on March 2.  This year’s championship marks the 41st gathering of league foes.

The Warhawks earned the third WIAC championship in program history a season ago with a score of 187.650.  UW-La Crosse placed second with 187.025, UW-Eau Claire third with 186.650, Winona State University (Minn.) fourth with 185.250, UW-Stout fifth with 184.400, UW-Oshkosh sixth with 183.050, Hamline University (Minn.) seventh with 181.300 and Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) eighth with 178.075.

The conference meet will also serve as the West Region qualifier for the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championship (NCGA) that will be held in Ithaca, N.Y., March 21-22.  The top three teams from the WIAC event, along with qualified individual gymnasts, will advance to the NCGA meet.

This year’s championship features seven individuals that have claimed WIAC titles at previous championships.  UW-Whitewater senior Allyse Dieringer was victorious in the uneven bars a year ago and the balance beam in 2012.

UW-La Crosse senior Christa Booman is the defending champion in the all-around and added a first-place finish in the uneven bars in 2012.  Sophomore Sheree Romesburg will strive for back-to-back titles in the floor exercise, while senior Morgan Shene claimed the all-around crown in 2012.

UW-Oshkosh junior Leane Blais won the balance beam a season ago.  At the 2012 championship, UW-Stout junior Katerine Prouty earned the vault title, while Hamline University senior Courtney Benson secured a first-place finish in the floor exercise.

This year’s championship features student-athletes that represent an incredible 24 different states and one from Quebec, Canada.  Following is the breakdown by state:  Minnesota (49); Illinois (22); Wisconsin (20); Missouri (7); Tennessee (6); Colorado (5); Florida (5); Michigan (5); Ohio (4); Indiana (3); Virginia (3); Washington (3); Georgia (2); Iowa (2); Nebraska (2); New Hampshire (2); North Dakota (2); Oregon (2); South Dakota (2); Alaska (1); Massachusetts (1); North Carolina (1); Pennsylvania (1); and Texas (1).

The top-six finishers in each event receive All-Conference designation.