La Crosse, Wis – The Gustavus Adolphus gymnastics team kicked off its 2014 campaign with a 182.625-166.750 loss to UW-La Crosse on Friday night at Mitchell Hall.
The Gusties posted individual event scores of 43.025 on the vault, 42.250 on the balance beam, 41.925 on the floor exercise, and 39.550 on the uneven parallel bars. The Eagles finished with individual event scores of 45.950 on the vault, 45.300 on the beam, 45.600 on the floor, and 45.775 on the bars.
Gustavus rookie Jaimie Niedermayer (New Prague, Minn.) turned in the team’s top individual performance in her first collegiate meet. Niedermayer scored a 9.350 on the balance beam, earning a place on the podium in third.
Rachel Thiner (So., Sioux Falls, S.D.) posted the team’s next best finish by taking fourth on the beam after scoring a 8.975.
Rachel Dargis (So., Bloomington, Minn.) was the top Gustie on the vault with a fifth place finish (8.925), while Kayln Botzet (Jr., Maple Grove, Minn.) also posted a fifth place finish of her own on the floor exercise (8.875).
Jessica Niedermayer (Fy., New Prague, Minn.) and Lauren Kershner (Fy., Maine, Ill.) led the way on the bars in a tie for sixth place after they each recorded a score of 8.450. Jessica was the only Gustie to compete in the all-around, scoring a 32.300 to finish behind UW-La Crosse’s Kendall Westrich who posted a 35.850.
UW-La Crosse’s individual event winners included Sheree Romesburg on the vault (9.400) and floor (9.500), Morgan Shene on the bars (9.425), and Kendall Westrich on the beam (9.350).
The Gustavus gymnastics team will be back in action on Tuesday, Jan. 14 when it plays host to Winona State University at 6:00 p.m. in the Gustavus Gymnastics Studio.