Sam Opsahl performs on the balance beam.
The Gustavus gymnastics team recorded season-highs on the uneven parallel bars and the balance beam Saturday afternoon in St. Peter, Minn., yet fell to a talented UW-Oshkosh team 176.400-168.200. Samantha Opsahl (Forest Lake, Minn.) recorded Gustavus’ first event win of the season by sticking a season-high 9.300 on the vault. Opsahl also added a fifth place finish on the balance beam (8.525) and a sixth place mark on the floor exercise (8.375).
The Gusties registered individual event scores of 45.500 on the vault, 39.150 on the bars, 41.675 on the beam, and 41.875 on the floor. The Titans went 45.400 on the vault, 44.575 on the bars, 43.600 on the beam, and 42.825 on the floor.
Finishing on the podium behind Opsahl on the vault was UW-Oshkosh’s Ashlan Millikan in second (9.175) and Gustavus’ Jamie Ries (Monticello, Minn.) in third (9.150). Millikan went on to take fourth on the bars (8.900) and fifth on the floor (8.450).
The Titans took the top four spots on the bars with Gustavus’ Bailey Zeinert (Oshkosh, Wis.) coming in fifth after scoring an 8.850. Jill Lindberg recorded a 9.325 to take the top prize, while teammates Natasha Cattelino and Leah Herchenbach placed second and third, respectively.
UW-Superior finished 1-2-3 on the beam as well, as Lindberg tallied her second individual event title after scoring a 9.325. Stephanie Gorman (2nd) and Herchenbach (3rd) finished behind Lindberg, while Maren Lodge (Coon Rapids, Minn.) placed fourth (8.650) and Opsahl took fifth.
Abby Zubella turned in the top floor exercise of the afternoon with a score of 9.175 and teammate Lindberg finished behind her in second (9.125). Amanda Christensen (Albany, Minn.) took third place after an 8.950 routine and Ashley Greeder (Mahttomedi, Minn.) finished fourth with a score of 8.650.
Titan Leah Herchenbach was the all-around champion with a score of 34.925. Zeinert and Kacy Lorber (Ashland, Wis.) rounded out the all-round competitors with Zeinert placing runner-up (32.525) and Kacy Lorber finishing third (31.675).
The Gustavus gymnastics team will hit the road for its next dual, traveling to Menomonie, Wis. to take part in the UW-Stout Invite held on Friday, Jan. 27 at 6:00 p.m.