Zimmerman Earns All-Around Title at NCGA Championships
Julia C. Zimmerman '09 became just the second women's gymnast in MIT history to win the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) All-Around title on Friday, March 24 when she earned first-place in the competition with a score of 38.175
Teammate Sophia L. Harrison '08 earned 36.950 points and finished tied for 11th, just one spot out of All-America status.
Zimmerman beat out a trio of University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh gymnasts for the top spot, as Teresa Phipps (38.050), Danielle Crinzi (37.925), and Meghan Hargens (37.625) finished 2-3-4, respectively. Defending national champion Sarah Bulka, of SUNY-Brockport, finished fifth with a point-total of 37.450.
The only other MIT women's gymnast to ever claim the NCGA All-Around title was Sheila Rocchio '97, who earned the prestigious honor back in 1995.
UW-Oshkosh won the team competition, thanks in large part to the stellar contributions of its all-around performers. The Titans' 185.575 points edged out Ursinus College, which collected 185.475, by just one tenth of a point. UW-La Crosse (183.350) rounded out the top three.
Zimmerman's fantastic evening was highlighted by individual wins on the beam (9.600) and floor exercise (9.775), in which she tied for first. The Chicago, Ill., native also tied for third place on the vault (9.650) and 25th on the uneven bars (9.150).
Harrison had her best showing on the vault, in which she tied for 11th with a score of 9.550. She also placed 15th on the uneven bars (9.350), tied for 17th on the floor exercise (9.450), and tied for 33rd on the beam (8.600).
With her brilliant performance, Zimmerman qualified for the individual finals on the beam, floor, and vault exercise. She finished first on the beam, third on the floor, and 14th on the vault.
Sarah N. Trowbridge '08 also competed in the individual events, placing 51st on the beam with an 8.100.