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Springfield College has had a long and storied history in women's gymnastics, including winning the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Division III Championships in 1996. Springfield College, which hosted the 2000 NCGA national championships, also placed third in 1997 and 2000, fifth in 1998, and sixth in 1999 and 2002.
Coach Cheryl Raymond's gymnasts have enjoyed considerable regional and national success. In the last 11 seasons, her gymnasts have received All-American honors a total of 18 times. Four have won national championships, including a pair of National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Division III vault champions (Shanna Larocque, 1999, Gina Gutierrez, 2000).
Three Pride gymnasts received All-American honors in 2007, and three more did so in 2008. In 2007, then freshman Audrey Lastra was a three-time All-American, earning that honor in the all-around, balance beam, and uneven parallel bars. During that season, she had broken the SC all-around record four times, finishing with a best of 38.25. In addition, then-sophomore Jackie Mazzola was an All-American in vaulting and then-junior Kristin Fairburn was an All-American on the uneven parallel bars. In 2008, Mazzola finished tied for 10th in the vault along with sophomore Brittany Davis. Sophomore Jeanna Bradle finished 10th in the uneven parallel bars. All three achieved Second Team All-America status. A total of nine Springfield individuals competed in the NCGA's overall.
In nine of SC's first 10 seasons in intercollegiate competition, the Pride was undefeated, including six straight seasons from 1968 to 1974 under Coach Mimi Murray. Springfield won AIAW national crowns in 1969, 1972, and 1973. Murray, a Springfield College professor and pioneer in women's sports, is still a member of the U.S. Gymnastics Federation Executive Board and was inducted into the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993.
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