SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus gymnastics team hosted UW-Eau Claire on Friday afternoon in a WIAC dual and won by a score of 177.975-176.525. The Gusties won the vault, bars, and floor exercise.
“It was a weird meet for us having it at 1 p.m. on a Friday,” said Head Coach Aryn DeGrood. “We didn’t have the time to prepare really mentally as they kept getting updates with things changing. They responded well and did what we asked and had a lot of improvements in the meet although the score might not show it.”
Gustavus scored a 45.250 on vault, 44.600 on bars, 41.875 on beam, and 46.250 on floor.
Brooke Merila (So., St. Michael) posted the highest score for the Gusties on vault with a 9.250 to take second place overall, while Gustavus took first in every other event. Annie Corbett (Fy., Brookfield, Wis.) won the bars with a 9.400, the beam with a 9.475, and the all-around with a 37.275. Ashley Goeltl (Fy., White Bear Lake) then won the floor exercise with a 9.400.
“There were some really positive things in every event that happened and the biggest thing for our team is how they responded after beam,” said DeGrood. “We only competed five and when you compete five you need to count them all and that’s a lot of pressure, and they responded well on floor. Sam [Tonjes] (Jr., Eden Prairie) went out on floor coming off of three falls on beam and went out and crushed it and did amazing. It’s really a testament to the character of our athletes and the strength in what this team has.”
Gustavus will next be in action Friday when they travel to Hamline at 6:30 p.m.