University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Spotlight: The Senior Class
3/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
The seniors have compiled a team record of 48-44 in their four years at Minnesota, and have advanced to the NCAA Regional Championship in each of their years with the Gophers. As freshmen in 2006, these gymnasts helped lead Minnesota to a Big Ten Championship! During their tenure, Minnesota has been ranked as high as No. 15 in the country.
Jade Beattie competed in all four events during her collegiate career. Jade competed on vault in all four years of her career, earning her top score of 9.8 twice. She was a bars competitor during her first three years on the team, with her best score of 9.8 coming during her freshman year. Jade competed on balance beam for the first time as a senior, and took first place in her debut beam performance with a 9.775. She competed in floor exercise in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Her best floor score is 9.775, which she earned as a junior. Jade came to Minnesota from Bismarck, N.D., and is a physiology and pre-dentistry major. She has been accepted into the School of Dentistry here at the University of Minnesota and plans to pursue a career in pediatric dentistry. Jade is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten award winner, and also earned Academic All-America honors. For two years in a row, Jade has been named one of Minnesota’s Top Five, an award given to the five upperclass student-athletes with the highest grade point averages.
Carmelina Carabajal has been a top competitor for the Gophers throughout her career, and has been an all-around competitor for the last three seasons. As a freshman in 2006, Carmelina competed on vault, beam and floor. In her sophomore season, she was added to the bars line up, and has been competing in the all around ever since. On vault, her career-best score is 9.925. Carmelina is tied for third place on Minnesota’s all-time top performers list for vault. She has a career-best of 9.875 on bars. Carmelina has achieved her top score on beam when she earned a 9.95 earlier this year. She is tied for second on Minnesota’s all-time top beam performers list. Carmelina’s best floor exercise score is 9.9. As an all around performer, Carmelina earned her best score earlier this season, a 39.35. She is a two-time All-Big Ten honoree, and qualified to compete in the NCAA Championships as an individual all around competitor last season. She’s a three-time Academic All-Big Ten award winner. Carmelina, a native of Albuquerque, N.M., is majoring in kinesiology and plans to attend nursing school after earning her bachelor’s degree.
Angela Walker has competed in all four events during her tenure with the Gopher team. On vault, Angela earned her career-best score of 9.8 as a freshman. She was a top bars performer for the Gophers for three years, earning her best score of 9.875. On balance beam, Angela achieved her best score this season as a senior with a 9.9. Angela competed on floor for three seasons, and earned her best score of 9.85 last season. She came to Minnesota from Houston, Texas, and is pursuing a degree in neuroscience. Angela is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten award winner, and a three-time Academic All-America honoree.
