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Rush City gymnastics tries to hang on for winning recordBy Barbara Brown Rush City gymnastics has been climbing up the points ladder, racking up wins and breaking school records along the way. If it hadnít been for a 3-point deduction for a mistake in the order of competition during the Monday night meet against North Branch, the Rush City girls would have won. But, that three points, taken off after the teamís final score of 119.83, took them down to 116.83. North Branch would have barely lost the meet at 119.8, but Rush Cityís mistake worked in their favor. Rush Cityís members of the varsity team need to work even harder in coming days to retain their slots on the elite squad or risk losing their posts to rising junior varsity members, said head coach Dianne Meier. The JV squad broke another school record at the Monday night meet against North Branch with 111.8 points, falling only eight points behind the varsity final score of 119.83. For the North Branch meet, seniors Aimee Fox and Samantha Rothbauer tied for first in balance beam with 8.35. Mary Jo Youngbauer was fifth with 7.6. In vault, Fox took second with 8.2 and Heather Sivigny was fifth with 7.85. Meier was especially proud of Sivignyís turn at the vault. ìShe stuck her new vault for the first time in competition,î Meier said. She said Sivigny often has no problem with the vault in practice, but until Monday night couldnít quit make the landing in competitions. On uneven parallel bars, Rothbauer took second with 7.7 and Fox was fourth at 7.05. In floor exercise, Rothbauer was first with 7.9, Fox was second at 7.65 and Molly Tomczyk was fourth at 7.4. Rothbauer was first in all around scores with 31.75 and Fox followed closely to take second with 31.25. For junior varsity, Amanda Matzke was second at 7.4, Megan Antrobus took third at 7.35, Gabby Calander was fourth at 7.3 and Kayla Witte finished in fifth at 7.2. Uneven parallel bars scores for JV were Bethany Hagman in first with 7.3, Danielle Lutz second with 7.1, Lindsey Klar in third at 7.0 and Becky Osterdyk in fifth with 5.9. JV beam scores were: Hagman, first, 7.5; Courtney Haavisto, second, 7.4, Calander, third, 7.1; and Sivigny, fifth, 6.6. In floor routines, Jolene Holt was first with 7.0, Antrobus was second with 6.7, Haavisto took third with 6.6, Hagman was fourth with 6.2 and Laura Erickson was fifth at 6.0. Hagman also secured second place in all around scores with a 26.6. The team will head out for two meets on the road. Meier said sheís not quite sure what to expect from Becker because she has not seen them compete before. But, she said, she is looking to Haavisto, Sivigny, Matzke and Osterdyk to make good showings and try to land slots on varsity in coming meets. The second away meet, set for Jan. 22 against Sauk Rapids, will be a challenge for the team, Meier said. ìWeíre going for conference points for our top scorers in that meet,î Meier said. ìI told them that theyíre going to have to work hard and make a good showing.î ©ECM Post Review |