Eau Claire, Wis. – The Gustavus Adolphus gymnastics team began its 2015 season with a third place finish at the UW-Eau Claire Invitational on Friday night at the McPhee Physical Education Center. The Gusties turned in a team score of 172.650, while UW-La Crosse won the triangular with a 185.000, and UW-Eau Claire took second with a 181.475.
The Gusties posted individual event scores of 45.550 on the vault, 38.700 on the uneven parallel bars, 42.975 on the balance beam, and 45.425 on the floor. UW-La Crosse went 46.450 on the vault, 45.725 on the bars, 46.675 on the beam, and 46.150 on the floor, and UW-Eau Claire recorded a 46.475 on the vault, 43.425 on the bars, 45.050 on the beam, and 46.525 on the floor.
Alexandra Kopp (So., Wayzata, Minn.) was Gustavus’s top performer in the season-opening meet. Kopp competed in the all-around where she finished second with a score of 36.275 after recording event scores of 9.400 on the vault (3rd), 8.750 on the bars (8th), 8.900 on the beam (9th), and 9.225 on the floor (7th).
Kopp was edged in the all-round by UW-La Crosse’s Samantha Wiekamp who totaled a 37.050. Gustie Lauren Kershner (So., Marine, Ill.) also competed in the all-around and finished third with a 34.925. Kershner’s top routine came on the floor where she registered a 9.325.
Individual event winners included UW-Eau Claire’s Elizabeth Stubbs on the beam (9.700) and floor (9.600) and Dez Stanton on the vault (9.475), and UW-La Crosse’s Amy Enright on the bars (9.575).
The Gustavus gymnastics team will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 16 when it hosts Hamline University at 7:00 p.m. in the Sponberg Gymnastics Studio.