The news made Alexandra Nugent break down and cry.
Nugent, a junior on the Winona State University gymnastics team, was overcome by joy when it was announced that the Warriors had qualified to compete in the national championships for the first time since the 1994-95 season.
The National Collegiate Gymnastics Association national championships will be held March 28 and 29 in Cortland, N.Y.
“When they announced that our team was going, I started crying because I was so excited,” Nugent said. “I’m so proud of this program and to have all these really talented girls with me.”
Last year, Nugent and Eileen Strube went to nationals as individuals for the second straight year, and Melissa Vodvarka went for the first time. Strube scored a career-best 9.575 on the balance beam to place second and earn All-American honors.
Prior to this season, the three juniors each said they wanted company, setting the lofty goal of qualifying for nationals as a team.
“It was a goal of ours, but it was so lofty,” WSU coach Beckie Rolbiecki said. “But I didn’t factor in the determination and drive that the girls have had since we started in the beginning of the fall.
“It’s the most remarkable group of kids I’ve coached in my career, in 20 years.”
The Warriors, who finished third in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference/NCGA Western Regional at Hamline on March 8, are not just happy to be there.
“We’re a good team, so we want to show our skills and what we’ve got,” Nugent said. “We’re just going to go and not put any pressure on ourselves and see what happens.”