AMES, Iowa – For the second straight meet, the Gustavus gymnastics team posted the second highest team score in program history, totaling 186.275 Friday in a triad against Division I programs Iowa State and Illinois State. Iowa State won the meet with a 195.025, while Illinois State took second at 192.700.
“The team had a lot of positive energy tonight,” Head Coach Aryn DeGrood said. “The big D1 environment was an awesome experience and the girls really responded to it. They were huge supporters of each other and really kept each other motivated and going strong.”
Gustavus scored a season-high 47.925 on floor, along with 46.950 on vault, 45.975 on bars, and 45.425 on beam.
“We had an awesome night on floor again with huge routines that couldn’t have been better,” DeGrood said. “Vault was good with just some little things to fix as we go into our double meet weekend. We are still continuing to improve on beam and are really looking to peak by the end of the year. Our bars tonight had some rough spots but the team pulled together and really did their best to finish as well as they could.
Alex Kopp (Sr., Wayzata, Minn.) led the Gusties with a season-high all-around score of 37.950. Kopp scored 9.700 on the floor, 9.550 on vault, 9.450 on beam, and 9.250 on bars. Amanda Malo (So., Greenwood, Minn.) was next highest for the Gusties, scoring a career-high 37.275 in the all-around. Her scores of 9.425 on bars and 9.625 on floor were also career bests.
Emily Anderson (Jr., Mendota Heights, Minn.) hit a career-high on the floor, tallying a 9.675. Lauren Kershner (Sr., Marine, Ill.) and Veronica Vasina (So., Arvada, Colo.) also posted solid scores on bars, each scoring 9.450.
“We hit the second highest score in team history tonight and it was well deserved,” DeGrood said. “The experience here at Iowa State will really help prepare us for our meets next weekend against Stout and at the U of M. We’re very proud of the girls’ accomplishments tonight and are continuing to look forward and stay on track for peaking at regionals!”
Gustavus hosts the University of Wisconsin-Stout at 6:30 p.m. next Friday on Parents Night. Next Sunday the Gusties travel to the University of Minnesota for the Best of Minnesota Invite.