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B1G Preseason Rankings and Gymnasts to Watch
12/13/2018 2:00:00 PM | Gymnastics
The University of Minnesota women's gymnastics team will kick off the season ranked No. 5 in the Big Ten Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. The Gophers are also represented in the preseason polls by sophomores Ona Loper and Lexy Ramler who have been named Gymnasts to Watch in the Big Ten this upcoming season.
Loper scored a 9.900 in her first ever collegiate meet competing floor and followed that performance with back-to-back 9.925s. She suffered a season-ending injury in the middle of last spring, but prior to her injury she was averaging 9.880 during the season and was ranked second in the entire Big Ten.
Ramler joins her teammate as a Gymnast to Watch after having an outstanding debut season for the Gophers. She earned All-American honors on beam at the NCAA Championship (Second Team) as well as Regular Season All-American honors on beam (First Team), bars (Second Team) and in the all-around competition (Second Team). Ramler was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, the Big Ten Freshman of the Week five times and the Gymnast of the Week four times. She won eight all-around titles last season and took 34 podium finishes.
"The team is in a great place right now and has enjoyed a tremendous pre-season," said head coach Jenny Hansen. "Our leaders have stepped up into their new roles and we are all very excited for season to arrive. Lexy is picking up right where she left off last year while Ona has been determined to not only come back, but come back stronger, from her injury last year. They have been instrumental in setting the tone for not only our returners but also for our large group of newcomers. "
Coming in at No. 23 in the WCGA Preseason Poll released earlier this week, Minneota is one of eight Big Ten teams to be ranked in the top 36 nationally. The Gophers open their season with an Intrasquad meet at Maturi Pavilion on Dec. 31 before traveling to Tempe, AZ to take on Arizona State on Jan. 4 for their first meet against a ranked team.
Minnesota will match up against 12 nationally-ranked teams on the competition floor in 2019 as the team aims to improve upon their sixth-place finish in conference play last year. Their first Big Ten matchup will take place on Jan. 19 at No. 29 Iowa.
B1G PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1 Michigan
2 Nebraska
3 Illinois
4 Ohio State
5 Minnesota
6 Iowa
7 Penn State
8 Maryland
9 Michigan State
10 Rutgers
GYMNASTS TO WATCH
Rae Balthazor, Jr., Illinois
Karen Howell, Jr., Illinois
Nicole Chow, Sr., Iowa
Charlotte Sullivan, Jr., Iowa
Audrey Barber, So., Maryland
Kirsten Peterman, Jr., Maryland
Abby Brenner, Fr., Michigan
Natalie Wojcik, Fr., Michigan
Ella Douglas, Jr., Michigan State
Lea Mitchell, So., Michigan State
Ona Loper, So., Minnesota
Lexy Ramler, So., Minnesota
Sienna Crouse, Sr., Nebraska
Taylor Houchin, Jr., Nebraska
Olivia Aepli, Jr., Ohio State
Jamie Stone, Sr., Ohio State
Lauren Bridgens, So., Penn State
Sabrina Garcia, Sr., Penn State
Michelle Amoresano, Sr., Rutgers
Belle Huang, So., Rutgers
Loper scored a 9.900 in her first ever collegiate meet competing floor and followed that performance with back-to-back 9.925s. She suffered a season-ending injury in the middle of last spring, but prior to her injury she was averaging 9.880 during the season and was ranked second in the entire Big Ten.
Ramler joins her teammate as a Gymnast to Watch after having an outstanding debut season for the Gophers. She earned All-American honors on beam at the NCAA Championship (Second Team) as well as Regular Season All-American honors on beam (First Team), bars (Second Team) and in the all-around competition (Second Team). Ramler was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, the Big Ten Freshman of the Week five times and the Gymnast of the Week four times. She won eight all-around titles last season and took 34 podium finishes.
"The team is in a great place right now and has enjoyed a tremendous pre-season," said head coach Jenny Hansen. "Our leaders have stepped up into their new roles and we are all very excited for season to arrive. Lexy is picking up right where she left off last year while Ona has been determined to not only come back, but come back stronger, from her injury last year. They have been instrumental in setting the tone for not only our returners but also for our large group of newcomers. "
Coming in at No. 23 in the WCGA Preseason Poll released earlier this week, Minneota is one of eight Big Ten teams to be ranked in the top 36 nationally. The Gophers open their season with an Intrasquad meet at Maturi Pavilion on Dec. 31 before traveling to Tempe, AZ to take on Arizona State on Jan. 4 for their first meet against a ranked team.
Minnesota will match up against 12 nationally-ranked teams on the competition floor in 2019 as the team aims to improve upon their sixth-place finish in conference play last year. Their first Big Ten matchup will take place on Jan. 19 at No. 29 Iowa.
B1G PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1 Michigan
2 Nebraska
3 Illinois
4 Ohio State
5 Minnesota
6 Iowa
7 Penn State
8 Maryland
9 Michigan State
10 Rutgers
GYMNASTS TO WATCH
Rae Balthazor, Jr., Illinois
Karen Howell, Jr., Illinois
Nicole Chow, Sr., Iowa
Charlotte Sullivan, Jr., Iowa
Audrey Barber, So., Maryland
Kirsten Peterman, Jr., Maryland
Abby Brenner, Fr., Michigan
Natalie Wojcik, Fr., Michigan
Ella Douglas, Jr., Michigan State
Lea Mitchell, So., Michigan State
Ona Loper, So., Minnesota
Lexy Ramler, So., Minnesota
Sienna Crouse, Sr., Nebraska
Taylor Houchin, Jr., Nebraska
Olivia Aepli, Jr., Ohio State
Jamie Stone, Sr., Ohio State
Lauren Bridgens, So., Penn State
Sabrina Garcia, Sr., Penn State
Michelle Amoresano, Sr., Rutgers
Belle Huang, So., Rutgers
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Friday, April 18
Mya Hooten Previews NCAA Championships
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NCAA Qualifier Mya Hooten
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