Alex Kopp won the floor and the all-around in the final home meet of her career.
ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus gymnastics team hosted the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Friday in its final home meet of the season, falling by a score of 188.900-184.725. The Gusties’ total score is the fourth best in program history as they now prepare for the regional qualifier next weekend.
“That was a solid performance for us today,” Head Coach Aryn DeGrood said. “They are doing what we ask of them and making the necessary corrections. While we had to count a few more falls than we’d like, the team is setting itself up to peak at the right time.”
The gymnastics program celebrated its four seniors as they competed in their final meet at the Sponberg Gymnastics Studio. Alex Kopp (Sr., Wayzata, Minn.) led the group of seniors and the team with a first place all-around total of 38.000 – the third highest total in her career and fourth highest in school history. Kopp now owns six of the top 10 all-around scores in program history. The Providence Academy product set a career-high 9.500 on bars, while adding a 9.575 on vault, 9.275 on beam, and a first place 9.650 on floor.
Sam Ardy (So., Thousand Oaks, Calif.) was right behind Kopp on the bars with a 9.425, while also posting a 9.450 on beam. Amanda Malo (So., Greenwood, Minn.) went over 9.0 on three of her four events, tallying 9.450 on vault, 9.125 on beam, and 9.375 on floor for an all-around total of 36.000. Lauren Kershner (Sr., Marine, Ill.) took second in the all-around with a total of 36.750.
“It was a wonderful senior celebration today, each of them went out there and gave it their all,” DeGrood said. “Individually, Alex had a strong performance, setting a new career high on bars and winning the floor exercise. Sam Ardy was solid again on bars and beam. Amanda Malo had a strong showing on vault, beam, and floor.”
Gustavus next competes in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference/National Collegiate Gymnastics Association West Region qualifier March 17-19 in Winona, Minn.