MENOMONIE, Wis. – The Gustavus gymnastics team took sixth place at the WIAC/NCGA West Regional on Saturday at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, accumulating a total of 184.725 – the second highest mark of the season. Host UW-Stout won the meet with a 190.225.
The Gusties posted five individual career highs and a season-high score in one event. As a team, the Black and Gold registered a season-high 48.150 on floor. They totaled 46.725 on vault, 45.950 on bars, and 43.900 on beam.
“Overall it was a good meet,” Head Coach Aryn DeGrood said. “We started off really rocky but turned it around in a big way on floor. Our floor was outstanding. And vault and bars were solid as usual.”
Sam Ardy (Sr., Thousand Oaks, Calif.) took second place in the all-around with a career-high 37.850. Ardy’s strongest finish was on the bars, scoring a 9.500 to tie for fourth. She also tallied 9.575 on floor, 9.450 on beam, and 9.325 on vault.
Amanda Malo (Sr., Greenwood, Minn.) tied a career-high on the floor with a 9.750 to tie for third place. She also tied a career-best on bars with a 9.500 to tie for fourth. Her all-around score of 37.050 was good for sixth.
Brooke Merila (Fy., St. Michael, Minn.) tallied a career-high on the floor with a 9.625 to tie for 14th. She totaled 36.425 in the all-around for eighth place. Katy Trunk (Sr., North Branch, Minn.) had the best performance of her career on the floor with a 9.650 to place 13th. The mark beat her previous career-high by .150.
“Individually we had lots a great things happen,” DeGrood said. “Katy Trunk had an incredible night on beam and floor. Ardy and Malo were rock solid as always for us.
“I am extremely proud of this team and everything we accomplished this year. Now we wait and see how nationals qualifications for individuals play out.”
Individuals that qualify for the NCGA Championship will be announced early next week. The national meet is March 23 at UW-Oshkosh.