University of Minnesota Athletics
Loper Quietly Racking up Success
2/20/2018 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Be There on Senior Night! : Don't Forget To Buy Your NCAA Regional Tickets!
The Gophers have been led on all-around by Lexy Ramler this season but another freshman has quietly made a dynamic impact for the No. 19 Gophers as well, and it happens to be Ramler's best friend.
Fellow freshman Ona Loper leads the entire team on both vault and floor. She notched a 9.900 in her first ever collegiate meet competing floor and followed it up with back-to-back 9.925s.
"I was not expecting to get a 9.9 in my first floor routine," Loper recalled. "It's really exciting to be able to represent my team so well."
She is averaging 9.880 this season and is ranked second in the entire Big Ten. She was as high as No. 7 in the NCAA and currently sits No. 28. While she is already at the top of the country, floor is not Loper's favorite event to train.
"It is a bit ironic. I love competing floor but I actually really love vault," Loper said. "Being able to stick the landing is an incredible feeling."
The Bluffton, S.C. native is averaging a 9.850 vault and is trending up. She has scored back-to-back 9.900s and recently landed a Yurchenko Full and a Half for the first time in her career. She is ranked second in the B1G and No. 33 in the entire country on vault.
A Yurchenko Full and a Half!? As if @honestlyona wasn't already impressive enough on vault she whipped this out for the first time last Friday and scored a 9.9. #Gophers #SkiUMah #LoveTheBattle pic.twitter.com/ba9WvddQcR
-- Minnesota W Gym (@GopherWGym) February 12, 2018
Loper was an instant fit on the Gophers squad both in and out of the gym. After visiting campus, she had no doubt she would be donning the Maroon and Gold.
"When I first visited I loved the atmosphere here and the coaches were so supportive. I could tell everyone was just so passionate about gymnastics," Loper said. "It was Minnesota all along. I knew this would be my home. It has been everything I thought it would be and more. It has been incredible."
All of Loper's instant success has gone somewhat under the radar. She has a calm and quiet demeanor and a classmate that has won four Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors in Ramler.
Last time out the duo combined for seven events and 68.72 of the Gophers 195.725 points. They have helped the Gophers exceed outside expectations in the 2018 season. After starting the year unranked, Minnesota has climbed to No. 19 in the country halfway through the season. They fully support each other and celebrate one another's successes.
"She's like the sister I've always wanted," Ramler said. "We are always together and I'd be lost without her. I love seeing her succeed and it pushes me to be better. She's my best bud and life is a lot more fun when you have someone like that."
Make sure to follow Gopher women's gymnastics onFacebook, Twitterand Instagramto stay up-to-date on the latest results, news and promotions!
Players Mentioned
