Gymnastics Posts Highest Score Since 2004, Defeats Winona State 180.775-180.200

COMPLETE RESULTS | PHOTO GALLERY

ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus gymnastics team defeated Winona State 180.775-180.200 on Tuesday night, marking its first victory since 2013 and its highest score since 2004 when the Gusties totaled 187.425 at the NCGA Nationals. For the second meet in a row, Alex Kopp (Jr., Wayzata, Minn.) won the all-around as she scored a 37.150. Kopp took first place in three of four events, scoring a 9.550 on the vault, 9.425 on the balance beam, and a 9.475 on the floor.

“Wow, what a night!” Head Coach Aryn Bell said. “That was awesome to see this group of women out there leaving everything on the floor. They pulled together and made the corrections we asked of them. It paid off big time. We beat our goal and are working on building the team score meet by meet.”

Once again, vault proved to be Gustavus’s top event as it scored 46.425. All six Gusties posted scores above 9.0. Behind Kopp, Amanda Malo (Fy., Greenwood, Minn.) tallied a 9.400 and Emily Anderson (So., Mendota Heights, Minn.) scored a 9.200.

The floor exercise was the next best event as the Gusties posted a 46.025. Malo achieved a 9.325, Lauren Kershner (Jr., Marine, Ill.) scored a 9.200 and Anderson posted a 9.075.

Beam and bars followed with team scores of 44.775 and 43.550, respectively. Along with Kopp, Rachel Thiner (Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) was the only other Gustie to score above 9.0 on the beam with a total of 9.050. On the bars, Anderson and Kershner led the way with identical scores of 8.775.

“The beam lineup improved greatly from last meet and that was the boost we needed,” Bell said. “Vault, bars and floor were solid again. That’s becoming a trend that the coaches are really enjoying.”

In the all-around, Kershner took second with a total of 36.050 and Malo took third at 35.525.

“Individually, all three of our all-around competitors put together a good meet,” Bell said. “Lauren stepped back into the lineup on vault and did exactly what was asked of her. They swept the all-around, which was awesome! Alex won again today, improving scores and doing what the team needed. Amanda had a fall on beam, but she finished strong and did great on the other three events. Senior Rachel Thiner stepped up big on beam today, placing third.

“It’s hard to single them out because I am so proud of each and every one of these ladies. We can only put six out there on an event, but each of them have worked incredibly hard and that is how we got to the outcome today. It was a team effort!”

Gustavus now has nine days off before its next competition. The Gusties travel to Menomonie, Wis. on Jan. 29 for a dual at UW-Stout.

“Now we have a long break before our next meet that we don’t normally get in our schedules,” Bell said. “That will allow us to continue to increase difficulty and start values.”