The Becker girls gymnastics team participated in two competitions this week — one at the Annandale Holiday Invitational last Saturday and one at home against RPHF Thursday.

 

Annandale Holiday Invitational

The Bulldogs finished in second place in Annandale, just three points behind Monticello in an eight-team invitational.

 

Team results: 1).  Monticello, 140.5; 2).  Becker, 137.55; 3).  STMA, 133.85; 4).  New Ulm, 128.15; 5).  Sauk Rapids Rice, 127.65; 6).  Delano, 127.05; 7).  Annandale, 123.25; 8).  Woodbury, 121.25.

 

“We had a good day on vault,” said Head Coach Jen Harmoning.  “The girls are beginning to get a little bit more comfortable competing their new vaults and today everybody stood up at least one of their two vaults.”  

 

Gymnasts compete two vaults and keep the score of their best one. Becker’s Miranda O’Brien topped all gymnasts.

 

Results: 1). O'Brien, 9.4; 3). Sarah Woelfel, 9.1; 5). Lindsay Olsen, 8.7; Amelia Kirchner, 8.3; Emi Quill, 8.0.

 

Bars was the highlight for Becker’s girls because they had five “hit” routines for the first time this season.

 

O’Brien had an especially good day, scoring a season-high 8.85 that tied her for first with Monticello's Kennedy Bican.  Quill placed sixth with a season-high score of 8.6 and Woelfel placed ninth, scoring an 8.4. Keeley Holm had an 8.1 and Olsen an 8.05.

 

“Beam was slightly wobbly and we had to count a few too many falls,” said Harmoning.  “Still, it wasn't too bad for an early-season competition.”  

 

O'Brien and Olsen were the only two to break into the top 10 taking sixth and seventh places.  O'Brien scored an 8.7 and Olsen scored an 8.6. Quill tallied an 8.2. Woelfel an 8.15 and Holm a 7.75.

 

“The girls competed well on floor, sometimes ‘overcooking’ their tumbling passes which caused us to give up a lot of points on landings,” said the head coach.  “It was great to see them compete their passes so easily, though.”  

 

Harmoning says the team’s goal for the next meet is to upgrade some of the skills to add more difficulty to their routines.  

 

Woelfel was the top floor score of the day for the Bulldogs, taking second place with a personal best score of 9.05.  O'Brien took fourth with an 8.8 and Olsen took ninth with an 8.6. Kirchner notched an 8.0 as well as Quill (8.0).

 

O'Brien placed second in the all-around, scoring 35.75.  Bican took first with a 36.5 score.  

 

Woelfel placed sixth and Olsen placed seventh with scores of 34.7 (another personal best) and 33.95, respectively.  Quill placed 12th with a score of 32.8.

 

Becker, 139.225, RPHF  125.425

The Bulldogs hosted Rush City/Pine City/Hinckley-Finlayson Thursday and took home first place by nearly 14 points.

 

The team started off the meet with a season-high team total on vault of 36.225.  Four vaulters were able to land on their feet.  

 

“We've worked hard to show more power and amplitude in the vaults,” said Harmoning. “The girls' scores are starting to reflect the improvement.”

 

Results: 1).  O'Brien, 9.6; 2).  Olsen, 9.05; 3).  Woelfel, 8.95; 4).  Kirchner, 8.625; 5).  Quill, 8.45.

 

The team competed very well on bars, but scores were tight.  

 

“Still, it was a hugely successful outing for us with three of the gymnasts competing new upgraded skills in their routines,” said Harmoning.

 

Results: 1).  Quill, 8.5; 2).  Woelfel, 8.45; 3).  O'Brien and Olsen, 7.9; Holm, 6.35.

 

On beam, the Bulldogs added a couple of new, more difficult jumps as well as a couple of upgraded skills and combinations.

 

“The girls handled the more difficult routines fairly well,” said the head coach. “Although we hope to cut back on the number of falls in the future.  For now, they just need time to get comfortable with their new routines.”

 

Results: 1).  O'Brien, 9.25; 2).  Olsen, 9.05; 5).  Woelfel and Holm, 8.0; Quill, 7.525.

 

The team ended very strong on floor exercise.  Quill, Woelfel, and Olsen all added more difficult tumbling passes to their routines.  

 

“The girls have been working hard to raise their difficulty levels on all events,” said Harmoning. “Tonight it paid off for them on floor as they scored a season-high team total of 35.95 on this event.”

 

Results: 1).  O'Brien, 9.35; 3).  Woelfel, 8.975; 4).  Quill, 8.85; 5).  Kirchner, 8.775 (personal best); Olsen, 8.45.

 

In the all-around, O’Brien once again topped all gymnasts with the top combined score.

 

Results: 1).  O'Brien, 36.1; 2).  Olsen, 34.45; 3).  Woelfel, 34.375; 5).  Quill, 33.325\.

 

The Bulldog JV team also won their match, scoring 120.7 to RPHF's 97.3.

 

Faith Madsen won the all-around scoring 29.85.

 

The girls are off until after the new year when they return to the gym to compete at the Big Lake Invitational Jan. 6 at noon. Jan. 9 they head to Maple Lake and Jan. 13 they compete at Lakeville North.