Winona, Minn. -  The Winona State University women's gymnastics team is set to host Gustavus Adolphus College today,  Thursday, April 1 in their final dual meet of the 2021 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) season.  The competition is scheduled to start at 5pm in McCown Gymnasium, home of WNB Financial Court. 

The Warriors (1-2 WIAC) are coming off their second away meet of the year held on Thursday, March 18, in which they traveled to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, falling to the Titans, 188.100 to 181.900.   

The Gusties most recently defeated UW-Eau Claire 183.725 to 181.325 at a meet hosted by UW-EC.

Asked about the season and upcoming meet, head coach Aixa Evenson said, "Every time I was asked about an upcoming meet in our season this year, I had no trouble finding the words to express our excitement and my fondness for this year's team. But here I am, the week of, struggling to convey to the public just how grateful I am to be their coach this season."  Evenson went on to note, "We have talked about this final meet as more of a far-fetched dream than a reality because we've expected change at every turn. We have focused on the today. But here we are and all I could find to ask them was, 'have you defined what success will look like for you on Thursday?' Sure enough, they pointed to our whiteboard hanging behind me on the gymnasium wall where they had written 'Determination & Gratitude.' " 

For Winona State, coach Evenson pointed out several bright spots during the year, including the efforts in the all-around by Izzy Kropiwiec who competed in all four events for Winona State in their meet against UW-La Crosse, earning an all-around score of 33.900.  She also noted the leadership and character provided by the three Warrior seniors,  Anna Hiller, Shelsea Zehr and Cora Geiger who have stepped up their roles in an non-traditional season format. 

Evenson concluded by saying, "We worked diligently this past week to decrease deductions and add value to our routines.  We dissected our score and found where each can contribute to the betterment of our whole. It really is every coach's dream to have a team that embraces challenge, empathy, and goal setting and that is exactly what this year's Warrior gymnastics team has done. We're looking forward to celebrating every athlete who steps into our home gymnasium, executing on the rigorous changes we've made over the past week, and placing a cap on a year surely meant to go down in the history books."

Head coach Evenson and assistant coach, Stephanie Geislinger, are former Winona State gymnastics student-athletes, both competing under long-time Warrior gymnastics coach Beckie Rolbiecki who retired this past summer.

The Warriors and Gusties last faced each other in a dual meet on Jan. 9, 2020, won narrowly by Gustavus Adolphus, 178.150 -178.625 

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