Samantha Opsahl shattered her career best scores on both the balance beam (9.325) and floor exercise (9.300) on Thursday night at the Sponberg Gymnastics Studio, but it wasn’t enough to help the Gusties defeat UW-Stout in a dual meet in St. Peter, Minn. The Blue Devils posted a team score of 178.750, while the Gusties registered a team total of 173.400.
Gustavus tallied individual event scores of 44.35 on the vault, 40.575 on the uneven bars, 42.500 on the balance beam, and 45.975 on the floor exercise. The Gusties total of 45.975 on the floor exercise was the best of the season bettering the 44.825 that the team registered at the Best of Minnesota meet.
It was a big night for Opsahl who reached new heights on both the balance beam and floor exercise. The sophomore from Forest Lake, Minn. (Forest Lake HS), posted a score of 9.30 on the balance beam besting her previous career best of 8.550 by .750. On floor, Opsahl registered a mark of 9.300 topping her previous career best of 9.275 by .025.
Opsahl wasn’t the only Gustie gymnast posting career best marks in the meet as sophomore Amanda Christensen (Albany, Minn.) scored 9.125 on the floor exercise and first year Jamie Ries (Monticello, Minn.) posted a mark of 9.225 on the floor.
UW-Stout’s Naomi DeLara won the vault with a score of 9.425, while teammate Jenna Jensing won the uneven parallel bars with a total of 9.225. Gustavus gymnast Danielle Thibodeau on the floor exercise with a score of 9.375.
In the All-Around, UW-Stout’s Jenna Lensing finished first with a total of 35.750, followed by teammate Brittany DeZiel at 35.700. The Gusties Danielle Thibodeau placed third with a score of 35.350 and teammate Jamie Ries finished fourth with a total of 35.050.
The Gustavus gymnastics program and the entire athletics department celebrated the standout careers of three Gustie gymnasts on Thursday night. Coach Kris Glidden, her staff and team recognized seniors Kelly Mathewson, Katie Mehrmann, and Lindsay Smithson prior to the meet for their dedication and commitment to the Gustavus gymnastics program for the last four years.
Gustavus will travel to UW-Eau Claire for a dual meet on Friday, February 25 at 6:30 pm.