The Becker Bulldog gymnastics team captured first place in two meets this past week. Friday, they hosted Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted-Holy Trinity and Tuesday they hosted Paynesville-Eden Valley-Watkins.

 

Becker:  139.75, HLWWHT:  117.875

For three of the four events last Friday, the Bulldogs had their best scores of the season — even with a very low beam total, Jen Harmoning’s team managed to score a season-high total.

 

“The team has shown that they are obviously more comfortable competing at home on their home equipment,” said Harmoning. “But in order to find success moving forward, they have to be able to bring that same level of performance no matter where we go to compete.  This is something the younger girls will be able to improve upon with the experience they've been gaining this season.”

 

All five Becker gymnasts swept the top places to capture a season-high vault total.

 

Vault Scores: 1). Miranda O'Brien (BB) - 9.475; 2). Sarah Woelfel (BB) - 9.325 (personal best score); 3).  Lindsay Olsen (BB) - 9.175; 4). Amelia Kirchner (BB) - 8.55; 5). Keeley Holm (BB) - 8.5.

 

Again, Becker's five competitors swept the top  places to score a season-high team total on bars.

 

Bars Scores: 1). O'Brien (BB) - 8.85; 2). Emi Quill (BB) - 8.75; 3). Woelfel (BB) - 8.45; 4). Olsen (BB) - 8.15; 5). Holm (BB) - 7.8.

 

“Unfortunately, we had way too many falls on the beam which resulted in one of the lowest team totals of the season,” said the head coach.  

 

O'Brien was the only Bulldog gymnast to stick her routine.  

 

“We had eight falls total and had to count five of those in our team score,” Harmoning said. “Each fall is automatically a half-point deduction. And then there are many difficulty and bonus tenths that get lost due to losing credit for the skills fallen on.”

 

However, Harmoning and her coaches know everything that happens at this point is a good learning opportunity.  

 

“The girls learn about themselves, but I am also learning as I watch how they handle certain things,” she said. “We will go back to the gym and work to make improvements.”

 

Beam Scores: 1). O'Brien (BB) - 9.3; 2). Olsen (BB) - 8.25; 3). Kirchner (BB) - 7.825; 4) Kayla Wolfsteller (HLWWHT) - 7.75; 5). Quill (BB) - 7.4.

 

Despite problems at beam, the team rebounded well and turned in another season-high team total on floor.

 

Floor Scores: 1). O'Brien (BB) - 9.4; 2). Woelfel (BB) 9.1 (personal best); 3).  Olsen (BB) - 9.05; 4).  Quill (BB) - 8.7; 5). Kirchner (BB) - 8.45.

 

O'Brien  had a great night, sweeping the top places on everything and scoring her season-high all-around.

 

All-Around Scores: 1). O'Brien (BB) - 37.025; 2). Olsen (BB) - 34.625; 3).  Woelfel (BB) - 34.025; 4).  Heather Leukuma (HLWWHT) - 30.725.

 

Becker  140.925, PEVW  121.225

For the second consecutive meet, the Bulldogs managed a season-high team total.  

 

“It's great to see the team starting to gain consistency and continue to improve day by day,” said Harmoning.

 

Again, the Bulldogs posted a season-high vault total.  

 

“We keep inching higher and higher, which is all you can ask for,” said Harmoning.  “The exciting part is that we can still improve on our scores.”

 

Vault Scores: 1).  O'Brien (BB) - 9.55; 2nd Woelfel (BB) - 9.275; 3). Olsen (BB) - 8.95; 4). Kirchner (BB) - 8.8 (tied personal record); 5). Holm (BB) - 8.475.

 

Five strong routines once again helped Becker to sweep the top five places.

 

Bars Scores: 1). Quill (BB) - 8.75 (tied personal record); 2). Woelfel (BB) - 8.675; 3). O'Brien (BB) - 8.45; 4). Olsen (BB) - 8.125; 5). Holm (BB) - 7.8.

 

“The team did a much better job overall,” said Becker’s head coach. “Although we still had to count three out of six total falls.  Still, the team did well enough to score a season-high team total on beam.”

 

Beam Scores: 1). Quill (BB) 8.85 (new personal record); 2). O'Brien (BB) - 8.775; 3). Kirchner (BB) - 8.675; 4). Olsen (BB) - 8.3; 5). Rebekah Walz (PEVW) - 7.9.

 

“Once again, the team turned in a great floor performance,” said Harmoning. “Although we lacked some of the preciseness and control with landings of tumbling passes.”

 

Floor Scores: 1). O'Brien (BB) - 9.375; 2).  Quill (BB) - 8.95 (new personal record); 3). Kirchner (BB) - 8.775 (tied personal record); 4). Woelfel (BB) - 8.65; 5). Anna Hopfer (PEVW) - 8.15.

 

O'Brien  captured the top spot for the second meet in a row.

 

All-Around Scores:  1). O'Brien (BB) - 36.15; 2).  Woelfel (BB) - 34.1; 3). Olsen (BB) - 33.475; 4).  Ellie Zimmerman (PEVW) - 31.1; 5). Hopfer (PEVW) - 30.825.

 

Becker’s next competition is Tuesday at Little Falls, their final conference dual meet.  Then, they will be at home Friday for their final home and dual meet of the season vs. Eagan.