With a tremendous all-around team effort, the Becker Bulldog gymnastics team captured the MSHSL Class A State Gymnastics Championship last week.  Becker scored 143.575 points, breezing by second place Watertown-Mayer (142.250) to win the program’s first title.

“We knew heading into the state tournament that we had as much of a chance as anyone else to win the meet,” Coach Jen Harmoning said.  “I know from experience that anything can and will happen when your team competes in a big event like a state championship meet, and the pressure that can come with being a front-runner can become overwhelming for the athletes.”

Harmoning reminded her team to continue on the same path they had been on all year, which relies heavily on positive team chemistry instead of a “win at all costs” mentality.

“We just tried to continually remind them of our team’s core values and what it is we are trying to do through gymnastics,” said their Hall of Fame coach.  “The most important of those things being — show up and try your best, focus on being a good teammate and supporting one another, and remembering that the results of a meet do not define us.”

The team’s efforts ended up being good enough to win the team title, even though the Bulldogs didn’t have their best meet of the season.

“It wasn’t our best competition, but the team never gave up,” Harmoning said.    

Becker started on balance beam and had only two stuck routines; Lauren Woelfel with a 9.325 and Emma Hennessey with a 9.2.

“It did not surprise me that our two seniors in the line-up were the ones who stuck their routines,” Harmoning added.  “They are experienced, veteran athletes and it showed in the way they were rock solid for us on beam.  One thing I was most proud about, however, was that the other three athletes who each had one fall were able to get back up on the beam after falling and finish fabulously.”

Harmoning credited that persistence as one of the themes that carried the Bulldogs through the meet and ended with the Class A title.

“We watched a lot of other teams throughout the day that had athletes who were not able to do that so I believe this ‘never-give-up attitude’ was what allowed our team to emerge as the winner.”

After beam, the team went to the floor event and put forward their best performances of the season.

“Chloe Spear started us off with such an amazing routine, and then each girl followed with hit after hit,” Harmoning said.  “After that, I knew that if we could just hold it together on vault and bars, we would have a good chance to win the meet since those are usually strong events for us.”

On floor, Spear scored a 9.1, followed by Bella Kuschel and Lauren Woelfel (9.2), and Karli Kirk (9.250). The top score came from eighth grader Maggie Graning, as she delighted the crowd with an incredible routine that netted a 9.425.  Becker’s total on the floor was an amazing 37.075.

The Bulldogs next had a nice rotation on vault, with Graning leading the way with a 9.250 and Kirk close behind with a 9.225.  Hennessey scored a 9.075, while Woelfel notched a 9.025 to round out the scoring.

Kirk paced Becker on the bars with an 8.9, followed by Woelfel (8.75), Hennessey (8.550) and Graning (8.225).

All together, it added up to a state title for the team, but Harmoning was quick to point out that her admiration for her team’s work was about way more than the hardware they earned.

“I’m obviously so proud of this team, but it’s not because they have gold medals hanging around their necks. I’m proud of them because they fully embraced the team mentality,” said the coach.  “They did what we asked them to do this season in being hard workers, holding themselves accountable to a high standard of core values, supporting their teammates, and focusing on having fun and trying their best.”

Woelfel Title

While the team title last Friday brought great excitement for the athletes, coaches and fans, the Bulldogs were not done yet as they still had the individual championships on Saturday.

Senior Lauren Woelfel went out in style, capturing the State Class A Balance Beam Championship in her last varsity meet.

“Lauren’s beam championship was the icing on the cake of not only an amazing weekend, but a truly great high school gymnastics career for her,” Harmoning said.  “Watching her compete beam on Saturday brought a few tears to my eyes because she had been dealing with holdover injuries all season that were affecting her beam routine the most.  She was just finally able to do all her beam skills again about one week before sections and she went three-for-three through sections, state team, and state individual averaging around 9.4.  It was just such a sweet moment.”

Each of the Bulldogs who competed in individuals was highlighted by Harmoning for the incredible accomplishments.

“I’m really proud of all the individual participants who competed on Saturday, they did so well,” Harmoning said.  

Graning was participating in her first state tournament and finished in a respectable 18th place overall in the All-Around event.  

“She gained so much valuable experience being an eighth grader and having competed her heart out the day before for the team,” Harmoning said.  

On vault, Hennessey placed ninth and just missed out on a medal due to the tie-breaker.

“I am so so proud of her because she had been out with an injury and was only able to start doing her vault again a couple of days before sections,” Harmoning said.  “She took every moment she had and made the most of it.”

Harmoning said that Kirk did a great bar routine and earned a medal on vault.

“She performed fabulously on vault, earning a seventh place medal after the tie-breaker,” Harmoning said.