Solon's Fiorilli Part of UW-Whitewater Gymnastics National Title

From UW-Whitewater: Katie Fiorilli, a native of Solon, OH, and graduate of Solon High School, is a member of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater gymnastics team, which claimed the fourth team national title in program history Friday night at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Team Championship at UW-Stout.

The Warhawks tallied a team score of 191.000 to claim its first championship since 2014, when the team completed a three-peat.

Sophomore Lisa O'Donnell (Berwyn, Ill./Morton West) earned the national championship in the all-around with a final score of 38.225, her sixth mark above the 38-point plateau this season and good for a place among the program's top 25 scores of all time. She is now a three-time All-American.

O'Donnell was also named the 2017 National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women West Region Gymnast of the Year. She was joined among NACGC/W award winners by assistant coach Ryan Bendixen, who was tabbed Assistant Coach of the Year.

Senior Katie Fiorilli (Solon, OH/Solon) registered a 37.350 in the all-around to place fifth and earn the 11th All-America accolade of her career.

UW-Whitewater started the meet with a team score of 47.975 on the uneven bars, good for a top 10 mark in school history. O'Donnell earned a spot in the program record book with a 9.725 to place first in the event. Senior Mackenzie Smith (Milwaukee, Wis./Martin Luther) placed second with a 9.675, and junior McKenzie Foster (Manitou Beach, MI/Addison) tied for third with a 9.600. Sophomore Bailey Fitzpatrick (Burlington, Wis./Burlington) tied for ninth with a 9.525, and Fiorilli rounded out Warhawk scoring with a 9.450, good for 14th.

The Warhawks tallied their highest score of the night on the balance beam with a school record result of 48.250. The team posted four top 10 scores in the event, including a 9.775 from Foster, who won the event and etched her name among the program's all time top 10 in the event. Senior Courtney Pickett (Brentwood, TN/Brentwood) tied for second with a 9.725, sophomore Franchesca Hutton (Shakopee, Minn./Main Street School of Performing Arts) collected a 9.675 to tie for seventh and O'Donnell tied for 10th with a 9.600. Smith tallied a 9.475, good for a tie for 17th.

UW-Whitewater continued the meet with the floor exercise, tallying a 47.550. Junior Kate Mierow (Brookfield, WI/Brookfield Central) tied for first with a 9.700. O'Donnell finished 14th with a 9.525, while Evans and Pickett tied for 19th after each registering a 9.450. Fiorilli tied for 22nd with a 9.425.
The Warhawks concluded the meet on the vault and scored a 47.225. Fiorilli placed first overall with a 9.550. Pickett tied for sixth with a 9.450, and junior Lewa Evans (Milwaukee, WI/Whitefish Bay) and freshman Lauren Marshall (Winthrop Harbor, Ill./Zion-Benton Township) tied for eighth with matching scores of 9.425. O'Donnell tied for 12th with a 9.375.

For more than 140 years, UW-Whitewater has provided students with the education and training to begin their careers with a solid foundation behind them. The UW-Whitewater is committed to the development of the individual, the growth of personal and professional integrity and respect for diversity and global perspectives. These are met by providing academic and co-curricular programs that emphasize the pursuit of knowledge and understanding and a commitment to service within a safe and secure environment.

Photo courtesy of UW-Whitewater