ANDREA MCGARY PRESENTED MARI-RAE SOPER AWARD AS THREE TEMPLE WOMEN'S GYMNASTS EARN USAG ALL-AMERICA STATUS ::

DENTON, TX--Temple senior gymnast Andrea McGary was honored with the Mari-Rae Soper Award, given to the athlete who has unparalleled passion, dedication and devotion to the sport of gymnastics, at the 2003 USAG Collegiate National Championships on Saturday, April 19. The award highlighted a day that also saw three Temple gymnasts - Paige Ozaroski, Erin Davis and Cicely Warrington - earn USAG All-America status.

Ozaroski captured a double-dose of All-America, placing third on uneven bars with a 9.800 effort and fourth on balance beam with a 9.750 score. Davis finished eighth on balance beam with a 9.150 tally. The top Temple individual finish belonged to Warrington, who placed tied for second on floor exercise with a 9.850 score. The top eight competitors in each event were named USAG All-Americans.

The University of California-Davis women's team and the University of Washington men's team were the big winners in the final night of competition at the Championships as both schools walked away with two event titles in the Individual Event Finals. UC-Davis gymnasts' Lynn Schwaebe and Tiffany Chan won titles on vault and floor exercise, respectively, while Washington's Jeff Crockett took titles on floor exercise and horizontal bar. Championship co-host Texas Woman's University recorded an individual national title of their own as Stephanie Loudat tied with Seattle Pacific's Kristen Strid on uneven bars with a 9.850.

Other individual event champions on the night included; Air Force's Allison Todd on balance beam with a score of 9.850, Bryan Rowe of Arizona State winning the pommel horse with a 9.150; Brian Lee of Army taking the still rings with a score of 9.600; Air Force's Aaron Jackson winning the men's vault with a 9.225; and Ramon Jackson of William & Mary taking the parallel bars title with a 8.825.

Senior Athlete-of-the-Year awards were handed out to Luci Romberg of Texas Woman's University for the women's division, Donald Mahr of UC-Santa Barbara for the men's collegiate division and Aaron Jackson of Air Force in the men's varsity division. Arizona State head coach Scott Barclay took home the Men's Collegiate Coach-of-the-Year award while Cliff Gauthier of William & Mary won the Men's Varsity Coach-of-the-Year award. Lorrell Tindell from Seattle Pacific University was awarded the Women's Coach-of-the-Year and Texas Woman's University's Jackie Fain was voted as the Women's Assistant Coach-of-the-Year.

Women's Individual Event Champions (top eight finishers in each event were named USAG All-Americans)

Vault: Champion, Lynn Schwaebe, UC-Davis, 9.762; 2. Luci Romberg, Texas Woman's, 9.737; 3. Rachel Anderson, Seattle Pacific, 9.662; 4. Jessica Brozovich, Texas Woman's, 9.612; 5. Kari Kelly, Seattle Pacific, 9.400; 6. Dana Giametta, Texas Woman's, 9.362; 7. Kim Holland, Texas Woman's, 9.325; 8. Lindsey Clowers, Texas Woman's, 9.262.

Uneven Bars: Dual Champions, Stephanie Loudat, Texas Woman's, 9.850; Kristen Strid, Seattle Pacific, 9.850; 3. Paige Ozaroski, Temple, 9.800; T4. Jennie Jackson, Centenary, 9.725; T4. Janelle Thibault, Centenary, 9.725; 6. Luci Romberg, Texas Woman's, 9.650; 7. Chelsie Leggett, Texas Woman's, 9.200; 8. Allison Todd, Air Force, 9.100.

Balance Beam: Champion, Allison Todd, Air Force, 9.850; 2. Laura Frank, Air Force, 9.825; 3. Stephanie Loudat, Texas Woman's, 9.800; 4. Paige Ozaroski, Temple, 9.750; T5. Lindsey Clowers, Texas Woman's, 9.600; T5. Shellen Goltz, Cornell, 9.600; 7. Luci Romberg, Texas Woman's, 9.250; 8. Erin Davis, Temple, 9.150; 9. Jennifer Beaver, Temple, 8.825.

Floor Exercise: Champion, Tiffany Chan, UC-Davis, 9.900; T2. Luci Romberg, Texas Woman's, 9.850; T2. Allison Todd, Air Force, 9.850; T2. Sarah Racioppi, Centenary, 9.850; T2. Cicely Warrington, Temple, 9.850; 6. Jonica Scott, Texas Woman's, 9.825; 7. Amber McMeans, Texas Woman's, 9.550.