The Becker Bulldog gymnastics team sent five athletes to state to participate in individual competition last Saturday at the UofM Sports Pavillion.
Vault Exercise
Freshman Katie Wilke placed 13th, scoring a 9.4.
“Katie did a very good vault,” said Head Coach Jen Harmoning. “We knew she did not have the highest difficulty in the meet, so she would have to have a perfect stick in order to have a chance to medal.”
Harmoning said she took one small step on her landing, but did an otherwise great vault.
“ I think this was a great experience for her, competing at state in her first year on the high school team,” she said. “Hopefully, she will be inspired by her results from this year and come back next year even more ready to contend with the top gymnasts at state.
Bars Exercise
Sophomore Marlee Louden placed 16th, scoring an 8.7.
“Marlee probably competed her best routine of the season,” said the head coach. “She has worked so hard all season long to improve her bars routine and raise the level of difficulty in her dismount.”
Louden wrapped up her improving season with three awesome performances this season - at the section championships and twice at state with team and individuals competition.
Beam Exercise
Louden placed 11th, scoring a 9.2. Sophomore Lindsay Olsen placed 19th, scoring an 8.9.
“Marlee finished off this season being a rock-star performer for our team on beam,” said Harmoning. “Marlee has the tough job of being the first one up for our team (on beam). She sort of sets the tone and gives the first impression. I could not be more pleased with how she has handled this difficult job.”
Harmoning said Louden nailed her routine for the team every time it mattered in a big way.
“I was really happy for her to also have so much individual success,” she said.
Harmoning said Olson had an unfortunate fall on her routine, but still managed to finish strong and garner a very respectable score.
“Just seeing Lindsay out there competing made my heart happy,” she said. “She has had a long and difficult season dealing with her foot injury.”
The coach said her injured foot is still far from being completely healed and she will be heading right back to the doctor to see if this problem can be taken care of as soon as possible.
“We hope she can become the great all-arounder she is again next year,” Harmoning said, “but we were happy she was at least able to contribute on beam and also have such a successful ending to her season.”
Floor Exercise
Haley Hubbard tied for eighth place, scoring a 9.375.
Harmoning was extremely happy with Hubbard’s performance, knowing full well she would have to be completely perfect in order to have a chance to medal.
“She did so well, but her first tumbling pass landed with her chest in a slightly low position,” said the coach. “A low chest can incur anywhere from 0.1-0.3 deduction. Even adding one tenth to her score would have put her in a medal position.”
Harmoning says that since she came so close to medaling, Hubbard feels inspired to work hard this off-season and go after it again next year.
“Haley has been such a consistent performer for our team on floor all season long,” she said. “She definitely deserves this great success.”
All-Around
Hannah Schmidt placed 30th, scoring a 33.7.
“We knew that the individual day of competition would be very difficult for Hannah,” said Harmoning, in reference to Schmidt’s injured leg. “She went all out and gave it everything she had for the team competition the day before and her ankle was very sore when Saturday came.”
The coach said Hannah had a choice — to bow out gracefully or to give everything she could for the team. The day before, she contributed greatly to the team's ability to eke out a third place spot over Austin.
Unfortunately, that valiant effort left her hobbling a bit and just trying to get through the competition Saturday.
“She did complete the day, though, and we're really proud of her for everything she gave,” said Harmoning. “To suffer a high ankle sprain three weeks prior and manage to compete in the section meet and qualify as an all-arounder was a tremendous accomplishment.”
