The Becker girls gymnastics team competed in two meets this week, finishing fifth at Big Lake Saturday and beating Maple Lake Tuesday.
Big Lake Tropical Twist Invitational
“We did not have a great day,” said Head Coach Jen Harmoning.
Floor Exercise
Harmoning’s girls took on floor in the first rotation and started off very well, scoring a season-high team total of 36.05 for the event. Several of the gymnasts had season-high scores.
Miranda O'Brien was Becker’s highest finisher, taking third place with a 9.45 score.
Sarah Woelfel just missed the top 10, taking 11th place with a personal best 9.05.
Vault Exercise
“Things started to go wrong on our second event, vault,” said Harmoning. “Each gymnast seemed to be just a bit off and we failed to put together any great vaults.”
As a result, Becker totaled their lowest team vaulting score of the season.
Woelfel was the team's highest finisher with a score of 8.7 — once again just missing the top 10 by placing 11th. Lindsay Olsen was right behind her in 12th, scoring 8.65.
Bars Exercise
“Things continued to be less than amazing on the bars in our third rotation,” said Becker’s head coach.
O'Brien was the team's highest finisher with her lowest score of the season, 8.05 — good for 13th place.
“Uncharacteristic falls and mistakes had carried on from the vault rotation,” said Harmoning.
Beam Exercise
Harmoning said her squad tried hard to rally in the last rotation and showed better poise as a result.
“Although it was a much better effort, the team only had one gymnast "stick" her routine (no falls), and the team counted five falls in the team score,” she said.
Amelia Kirchner took top honors for the team, sticking her recently upgraded routine and scoring a personal best score of 8.75 — giving her 10th place. O'Brien and Olsen tied for 13th with 8.55 scores.
All-Around
O'Brien was Becker's top all-arounder for the day, scoring 34.55 in sixth place. Olsen placed ninth with a score of 33.3.
Team Results: 1). Big Lake, 142.05; 2). Sartell-St. Stephens, 140.25; 3). Rogers, 139.9; 4). Chisago Lakes, 135.35; 5). Becker, 134.85; 6). Annandale, 127.3; 7). Minneapolis SW, 127.25; 8). Glencoe-Silver Lake, 114.35.
Becker 137.125, Maple Lake 130.375
The Bulldogs bounced back from Saturday's tough day to perform much better in a dual meet at Maple Lake. Becker, however, had to power through without the help of Junior Emi Quill, who was home sick.
Vault Exercise
“It appeared to be a completely different team on the vault with O'Brien once again nailing an amazing vault to score 9.65 and take first place,” said Harmoning.
Olsen also did a nice vault to take third place with a score of 8.95.
Fourth place went to Woelfel (8.65), sixth to Kirchner (8.6) and seventh to Keeley Holm (8.4).
Bars Exercise
“The team also performed much better on bars,” Harmoning said. “Although we dearly missed the efforts of Quill, who has been our top bar worker this season.”
Woelfel completed a gorgeous routine and scored a personal best score of 8.825 to take first place. O'Brien also had a nice routine, scoring an 8.625 which was good for third place.
Olsen captured fourth with a 7.975, Kirchner fifth with a 7.575 and Holm ninth with a 7.225.
Beam Exercise
“Beam did not go as planned and the team once again counted numerous falls (six) in the team total,” said Becker’s head coach.
Olsen was top on this event with her score of 8.7. Holm finished third with an 8.125, Kirchner fifth with a 7.725, Woelfel sixth with a 7.7 and O'Brien eighth with a 7.1.
Floor Exercise
Becker rebounded well after beam and turned in another strong floor performance.
O'Brien took first with a 9.425. Woelfel and Olsen tied for third with 9.0 scores. Kirchner captured fifth with an 8.6 and Holm ninth with an 8.075.
All-Around
O'Brien's tough night on beam cost her the all-around title to Maple Lake's Gracie Elsenpeter, who won the event, scoring 35.45. O'Brien's 34.8 was good for second, and she was followed closely by Olsen in third (34.625) and Woelfel in fourth (34.2). Kirchner took fifth scoring 32.475 and Holm placed seventh with 31.825.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will be competing Saturday at the Lakeville North Invitational. This invite hosts 16 top teams from both Class A and AA, so it will be a tough test for Becker’s young team.
“Our goal is to try to focus on our own gymnastics and perform well,” said Harmoning. “It will be a good learning experience for our underclassmen who have never competed in such an environment before.”
The Bulldogs complete next week’s schedule by facing off with Howard Lake-Waverly-Winstead/Holy Trinity at home Friday night.
