The Bulldog girls gymnastics team competed in Willmar Saturday and hosted Maple Lake Tuesday.

 

Becker traveled to Willmar to compete against nine other area schools in the annual True Team Championship last Saturday.

 

The Bulldogs finished seventh with 173.85 points.

 

“We qualified in ninth place for the True Team championships, so moving up a couple of spots to seventh place was a small victory for us,” said Head Coach Jen Harmoning.  

 

“We did not do it in the way we had hoped, however, because we had to count many falls and major mistakes from bars and beam.”  

 

Harmoning says she and her athletes have a few kinks to work out and they will continue each week to keep at improving.  

 

“We have three weeks until sections when we need to be ready to go,” Coach Harmoning said.  “Places 5-7 were all teams from section 7A, so it is definitely going to be a good battle that day!”

Results: 1). Detroit Lakes, 187.525; 2). Melrose, 181.45; 3). Willmar, 180.075; 4). Austin, 178.55; 5). Sartell, 175.675; 6). North Branch, 174.95; 7). Becker, 173.85; 8). Watertown, 173.325; 9). Perham, 170.375; 10). Worthington, 169.175.

 

Becker 143.7, Maple Lake 125.2

On parents and senior night in Becker Tuesday, the Bulldogs earned solid performances from their top athletes and beat the Irish by 18.5 points.

 

The home team started off the night with five “hit” vaults and a season-high total of 37.0 on the event.

 

Miranda O’Brien was superb as she recorded a nice 9.4 score and nailed her landings. Lindsay Olsen was nearly equally effective, scoring right behind O’Brien with a 9.3 and Katie Wilke (9.2) and Kassidy Severson (9.1) were also spectacular.

 

O'Brien finished first, Olsen second, Wilke fourth and Severson fifth.

 

Becker’s bar routines went well.  The Bulldogs had four “hit” routines and only one with a fall on a new dismount.  

 

“Overall, the routines were well-executed,” said Harmoning.  “We've really been working hard on getting our skills with the best form possible.”  

 

It showed Tuesday as Harmoning’s kids earned a season-high team total of 33.825.  Becker took all top five places with Marlee Louden taking first with a 8.925 score, Emi Quill captured second place with an 8.75 score, Lexi Michels was third with an 8.1 score, Haley Hubbard nailed down fourth place with an 8.05 score and Aubree Lahr took fifth with an 8.0.

 

Beam was less consistent than Harmoning had been hoping for and was the event that held them back from getting a season-high team total score.  

 

“We ended up with three falls and some other major wobbles,” said Harmoning. “However, I'm feeling confident that we are getting closer to where we need to be.”

 

O'Brien took first with a 9.3, Olsen was next with a 9.075, Louden took fourth with an 8.35 and Severson took fifth with an 8.3.

 

“Floor was spectacular for us tonight with five well-hit routines,” said Becker’s head coach.

 

Again, the Bulldogs scored a season-high team total of 37.85 on the event.

 

Hubbard was especially magnificent on her favorite routine as she captured first place with a 9.55. Olsen and O’Brien tied for second place with identical 9.45 scores. Severson had possibly her best floor exercise of the year and finished fourth with a 9.4 score.

 

Hubbard was Becker’s only all-arounder against Maple Lake and she finished in second place, scoring 34.25.  

 

Laker Gracie Elsenpeter took first place in the  all-around, third on vault and beam and fifth on floor.

 

Becker’s final dual meet of the season is Friday at Eagan.