ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus gymnastics team hosted the 2018 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference/National Collegiate Gymnastics Association West Regional at Gus Young Court on Sunday, taking fifth of eight teams with a season-high score of 185.725, the third best team score in program history.
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse was crowned the team champion, earning the program’s 24th WIAC Championship with a team score of 191.875.
Coming in as the No. 8 seed, a school record beam score of 45.900 and season-high score of 46.775 on bars led to the best finish since 2004 for Gustavus. The Gusties also scored 46.775 on vault and 46.275 on the floor exercise.
“What an amazing day,” said Head Coach Aryn DeGrood. “We could not be more proud of this team. They did what we worked for all year and ended on a high note, the highest meet of the year. Incredible.”
Sam Ardy (Jr., Thousand Oaks, Calif.) paced the Black and Gold, turning in a team-best fifth place finish on bars. Ardy tied a career-high with a score of 9.675, earning All-Conference laurels.
Veronica Vasina (Jr., Arvada, Colo.) led the Gusties on beam with a career-best score of 9.425, while Ardy followed at with a season-high 9.375, and Emily Anderson (Sr., Mendota Heights, Minn.) at 9.100.
Vasina also claimed the top team score on the vault at 9.450, while Ardy and Leah Heilig (So., Forest Lake, Minn.) each scored 9.400.
“Floor was a little rocky but they responded so great on the other events,” DeGrood commented. Bars and beam were incredible. It was such an amazing day and so fun to be part of.”
In the all-around competition, Amanda Malo (Jr., Greenwood, Minn.) and Ardy finished in fifth and sixth place, respectively. Malo had a total score of 37.325, led by her season-high floor score of 9.575 – which was good for 11th place. Ardy finished with a season-best all-around score of 37.075. Each received All-Conference honors.
“We know Sam (Ardy) has qualified for nationals which is a huge accomplishment considering she broke her leg in September and had to have six screws and a plate put in,” said DeGrood. “We are still waiting to see if any others make it in. We are hopeful there. But we will have to wait and see.”
Ardy (bars) and Malo (all-around) qualified for the NCGA Championships. The NCGA Championships are hosted March 23-24 at Springfield College in Massachusetts.