WINONA, Minn. – The Gustavus gymnastics team competed in its final meet of the season Friday at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference/National Collegiate Gymnastics Association West Regional, hosted by Winona State University. The Gusties took seventh of eight teams, scoring 185.625, which is also the third best team score in program history. Gustavus scored 47.625 on floor, 47.050 on vault, 46.475 on bars, and 44.475 on beam.
“We started off with a bang today on floor and vault,” Head Coach Aryn DeGrood said. “Bars was again super solid for us, as it’s been all season. Beam was our weak point. Despite that, we had our second highest team score of the year.
“The team really came together as one today. It’s something we’ve talked about all year and make a point of emphasis for meets. They functioned as one unit and that was exactly what we set out today. I could not be more proud of each and every one of these young women.”
Floor was the best event of meet for the Gusties as they scored three at or above 9.6. Alex Kopp (Sr., Wayzata, Minn.) led the way with a 9.625, while Emily Anderson (Jr., Mendota Heights, Minn.) and Amanda Malo (So., Greenwood, Minn.) each scored 9.600.
On the vault, Kopp once again led the way with a fourth place 9.600. Lauren Kershner (Sr., Marine, Ill.) and Malo closely followed at 9.425 each.
Sam Ardy (So., Thousand Oaks, Calif.) posted a career-high 9.625 on bars to lead the Gusties with a third place finish. Veronia Vasina (So., Arvada, Colo.) also scored a career-high with a 9.525. Beam was the downfall, but Kershner tallied a respectable 9.525 to lead the way.
Kershner and Kopp both posted 37.450 in the all-around, while Malo scored a 36.075.
“Individually, we had huge performances,” DeGrood said. “There were many personal bests today, which is a great way to end the season.”
Three Gusties will continue their seasons in two weeks at the national meet as Ardy qualified on bars, Kershner in the all-around, and Kopp on the vault and all-around. The NCGA Championships are hosted March 31-April 1 at UW-Stout.