LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Gustavus gymnastics team took third of three at the Gershon/McLellan Invitational at the University of Wisconsin La-Crosse Friday evening, recording a season-high score of 179.875. UW-La Crosse swept each event to win the triad with a score of 189.600, while UW-Eau Claire took second at 185.750.
The Gusties turned in team scores of 45.425 on vault, a season-high 44.875 on bars, 43.125 on beam, and a season-high 46.450 on floor.
Sam Ardy (Jr., Thousand Oaks, Calif.) and Amanda Malo (Jr., Greenwood, Minn.) helped contribute to the team’s season-best scores on the bars and floor. Ardy finished seventh on bars with a season-high score of 9.425, while Malo followed up her first place floor finish from a week ago with a season-best 9.550, placing sixth.
Malo and Emily Anderson (Sr., Mendota Heights, Minn.) competed in the all-around, coming in third (36.025) and fourth (35.225) place, respectively. Anderson compiled season-high scores on the beam (9.000) and the floor (9.325).
“We are getting individuals back from injuries and illnesses which is pushing everyone in the gym and really helping them demand more from themselves,” DeGrood commented. “I am particularly proud of floor, the coaches really pushed them last week in practice and they responded well. Individually, Sam Ardy competed all around for the first time this season (exhibitioning floor). She was solid out there for us. Amanda Malo again led the floor squad. Jamie Erdely (Jr., Phoenix, Ariz.) had a career high on floor tonight.”
Gustavus returns to Sponberg Gymnastics Studio next Saturday, hosting the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh for a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference dual meet. First rotation begins at 1 p.m.
“Overall it was a good outing for us. We counted less falls and had some big things happen. We put together the floor day we know we are capable of. The beam squad is gaining more and more confidence each week. Bars was much improved. And our vault was really solid. We are chasing that elusive 180 and we know we’re going to get there. The team is very excited to get back to work Monday for finally another home meet week. I think we will be seeing some big things,” DeGrood said.