MINNEAPOLIS – The regular season for the Gustavus gymnastics team ended on a high note Saturday, as it tallied the second best team score in program history at the Best of Minnesota Meet, hosted by the University of Minnesota. The Gusties tied for third place out of four teams with a season-high score of 184.300. The host Gophers took first with a score of 196.200, while Winona State took second at 184.825, and Hamline tied the Gusties at 184.300.
Not only did the Gusties post a season-high total team score, but they also set two program records on the bars and vault. Gustavus’s score of 47.350 on the vault and 45.950 on the bars both set new records, which have been standing since 2004.
“What a great meet we had today!” Head Coach Aryn Bell said. “The team did phenomenal under the pressure on three of the four events with room to improve on beam.”
The bars lineup was led by Sam Ardy (Fy., Thousand Oaks, Calif.) with a season-high 9.575. Emily Anderson (So., Mendota Heights, Minn.) and Laueren Kershner (Jr., Marine, Ill.) tied with scores of 9.150, also season-highs.
“Bars started us off huge, breaking the school record with a 45.95!” Bell said. “Each of the ladies was incredible up there. They did everything we asked them to do and earned those scores with the hard work they’ve put in everyday in the gym.”
The beam featured two gymnasts at nine or above as Kershner posted a 9.250 and Ardy totaled a 9.000. The team totaled 44.325.
“Beam was a little rocky,” Bell said. “We had lots of missed connections and a couple falls. It’s certainly an area we know we can and need improve on next week. That is the last key in the puzzle to putting together a complete meet.”
On the floor, the team posted a season-high 46.675 and each of the six Gusties went over nine, led by Alex Kopp’s (Jr., Wayzata, Minn.) 9.450. Amanda Malo (Fy., Greenwood, Minn.) was next with a 9.400, and Jaimie Niedermayer (Jr., New Prague, Minn.) followed at 9.350.
“Floor was the best of the year overall,” Bell said. “The six women out on the floor really enjoy performing and their scores are beginning to reflect it.”
The final event for Gustavus was vault as it tallied a program-record score. Kopp led the way with a career-high 9.600, followed by Ardy at 9.575 and Malo at 9.450.
“We ended with a bang on vault!” Bell said. “Breaking another school record with a 47.35. We upgraded vaults and added more difficulty this week. That really propelled our success.”
Ardy led the Gusties in the all-around with a total of 37.400. Kopp posted a 36.925 and Malo rounded it out at 36.475.
“Overall, I am so please with them and the consistent performance they a having each and every week,” Bell said. “It was fun to be a part of that today and to see that they still want to achieve more. Now it’s time to put it all together and put our best out there on Friday at conference and regionals.”
The Gusties travel to La Crosse, Wis. next Friday to compete at the WIAC Championships/NCGA Regional.