The Becker Bulldog gymnastics team kicked off their 2018-19 regular season with two home meets.

 

 

Last Saturday, the girls hosted their annual Bulldog Invitational in the high school gym along with seven other teams.

 

This was a fantastic chance for our Bulldog gymnasts to finally hit the floor and show the routines that they have been working on all pre-season,” said new Head Coach Kayla Kalinowski.  

 

The meet  moved from the gymnastics room to the main gym to accommodate the athletes and fans.

 

“We like to get the girls into a few meets a year in big gyms to help prepare them for post-season meets and larger atmospheres,” said Kalinowski.  

 

This was Becker’s first meet of the season and first meet with the new rule changes that were put in place.  

 

“We knew that the scores were going to be lower in general but we were decently surprised with how well our gymnasts handled it,” said the head coach.  

 

The meet was run as a judges clinic, so the gymnasts were able to talk to the judges after each event to learn what they were deducted for and some things to work on.  

 

“It is a great experience for the gymnasts to hear what the judges are looking for and what to work on for later in the season,” Kalinowski said.  “Only team scores were announced, so no individual places were awarded.”

 

 

Becker started on vault and had the highest vault total of any team for the day.  Newcomer Theresa Johnson (8.45) and veteran Keeley Holm (8.5) both hit very nice twisting vaults. Becker’s other three flippers, Lauren Woelfel, Sarah Woelfel and Riley Norberg, all landed their tsuks for some great first meet scores of 9.2, 9.15, and 9.3.  

 

 

Bars is the event that the new rule changes hit the hardest.  Kalinowski knew this event was going to be difficult from the start and  she and her coaches put together nice, clean, easy routines for the girls to get the season started with. 

 

“We are excited for winter break to be able to hit the gym hard and work to add some new skills and releases to our bar routines,” she said. 

 

The girls handled their routines well and had the second highest bar total of the meet.  Lauren Woelfel - 7.0, Katie Wilke - 7.65, Sarah Woelfel - 8.05, Riley Norberg - 8.1, and Emi Quill - 8.35.

 

 

Beam was the one area where Kalinowski didn't think her gymnasts performed to their highest potential — with the exception of Lauren Woelfel — who completed a beautiful routine and showed amazing composure, especially for only being a seventh grader.  

 

“The girls had been showing some amazing beam routines in practice but they let the judges and big atmosphere get to them,” said Kalinowski. “They got a little wobbly and lost some important connections as well as had many falls.  Luckily, this is an easy fix as we have more time to get in the routine numbers they need and they are a talented crew on beam.  We can't wait to watch them put it all together soon.”

 

Scores were: Amelia Kirchner - 7.3, Lauren Woelfel - 8.3, Riley Norberg - 8.1, Katie Wilke - 6.8, Emi Quill - 7.35.

 

 

Floor was Becker’s last event of the day and the girls let loose and showed their fun routines they have been working so hard on.  

 

“The new scoring on floor is making it a little harder to break into those “9” scores,” said Kalinowski, “but we had some solid routines to start the season off with and are hoping to see those scores increase each meet.”

 

Floor scores were:  Amelia Kirchner - 8.25, Sarah Woelfel - 8.45, Riley Norberg - 8.2, Katie Wilke - 8.15, and Emi Quill - 8.5

 

 

1). Willmar 137.3; 2). Becker 132.8; 3). STMA 132.45; 4). St. Cloud Tech 131.7; 5). Farmington 129.45; 6). Maple Lake 127.9; 7). North Branch 127.8; 8). RPHF  121.05.

 

 

Tuesday, Becker hosted the Flyers of Little Falls and captured their first, head-to-head win.  The final team scores were Becker - 134.775 and   Little Falls - 123.975.

 

 

Starting on vault, Becker was without two of their normal varsity vaulters due to injuries, but Kalinowski has some amazing talent that is always working hard to be able to fill those spots.  Johnson, Lauren Woelfel and Norberg all hit outstanding vaults to finish 1-2-3 on this event.  

 

Vault scores: Emi Quill - 8.5, Amelia Kirchner - 8.55, Theresa Johnson - 8.75, Lauren Woelfel - 9.05, Riley Norberg - 9.45

 

 

“Bars is a tough event to improve on without adding some more difficult skills,” said Kalinowski.  “With not having time to add any new skills, we chose to focus on execution and try to pick up a few tenths here and there.”  

 

Kalinowski’s gymnasts continued to show solid, consistent routines and are anxious to add new skills over the winter break. 

 

The solid routines were enough for Sarah Woelfel, Norberg, Quill, and Wilke to finish first-fourth.  Lauren Woelfel - 7.275, Katie Wilke - 7.675, Emi Quill - 8.0, Riley Norberg - 8.05, and Sarah Woelfel - 8.35.

 

 

“We were very impressed with the gymnastics ability to take corrections from Saturday's meet and apply them to this meet,” said Becker’s head coach. “They seemed to be focused on each skill and worked hard to improve their connections.” 

 

Wilke won the event with an 8.4 score. Lauren Woelfel - 7.3, Emi Quill - 7.95, Riley Norberg - 8.05, and Katie Wilke - 8.4 were Becker’s other scorers.

 

 

The girls continue to improve each time they hit the floor and that is all Kalinowksi and her coaches can ask for this early in the season. 

 

Quill led the way with a beautiful routine to finish first with an 8.9 score.  Lauren Woelfel - 7.6, Riley Norberg - 8.5, Katie Wilke -8.55, Amelia Kirchner - 8.65.

 

 

Norberg led the way in the all-around in her first high school dual meet with a 34.15 combined tally.  Quill finished second with a 33.35 and Lauren Woelfel finished fourth with a 31.225.

 

 

Kalinowski’s girls are excited to have a few weeks off from meets over winter break to add some more difficulty and work on new skills and connections before they compete again Sat., Jan. 5 at Big Lake.