Posted: 2/1/06

NB gymnasts have presence

By Patrick Tepoorten

North Branch gymnasts have been making their presence felt around the league in the last week and a half, with victories against Spring Lake Park and Fridley, and a fifth place invitational finish at Princeton. A loss to Rush City/Pine City/ Hinckley-Finlayson last Tuesday was the only blemish on an otherwise pristine run.

Against Spring Lake Park on Jan. 19, Viking contortionists Allyssa Houle and Kelsey Lloyd were key. Houle finished first on the vaulting horse, the uneven bars, the floor exercise, and the all-around. Lloyd was literally right behind her in second in all of the same events with the exception of the floor exercise, where she finished third.

Sophia Kneen was another bright spot for the Vikings on their way to a 123.175 to 87.65 win over Spring Lake Park. She collected a third place in the horse and the uneven bars.

The squad followed up their dominance of Spring Lake Park with a fifth place showing at the Princeton Invitational on Jan. 21, and a tough loss to Rush/Pine/Hinckley-Finlayson on the 24th.

The northern co-opís Bethany Dahl made life hard for the Vikings with first place finishes in the bars, the floor routine and the all-around. Teammateís Rachel Miller and Becky Osterdyk were also very consistent. Miller scored in the top three often, and Osterdyk helped round out a top three that held the Vikings to 122.175 points to their own 134.825.

North Branch would rebound from the defeat on the 24th to approach a school record just two days later against Fridley. Again it was Lloyd and Houle scoring in the top three in every event that would secure the victory. Ultimately, the 127.05 score was not only enough for the win, but enough to beat last yearís team best of 126.225, and almost enough to beat the school record of 128.3.

Viking head coach Holly Saunders commented that the girls have been competing very well this season, saying, ìall the girls have been doing wonderful.î With Houleís ankle on the mend, itís all systems go for Viking gymnasts as the season moves inevitably towards the conference tournament on Feb. 11.

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