OSHKOSH, Wis. – The Gustavus gymnastics team started its season Saturday with a dual victory for the first time since 2007, defeating the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh 175.550-174.725 in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference meet.
“To win the first meet of the year is a big confidence boost for the team, especially when it is a conference win,” Head Coach Aryn DeGrood said. “We were not perfect but this provides us a great starting point for the season. There were a lot of first meet nerves that impacted us today and should work themselves out as we move forward. 1-0 is a great way to start the growth process of the season.”
Lauren Kershner (Sr., Marine, Ill.) led the Gusties with first place finishes on the beam (8.950) and scored a career-high 36.95 in the all-around. The senior captain also scored 9.05 on the vault (fourth), 8.95 on the bars (second), and 9.475 on the floor (second).
“Lauren had an outstanding day, a career day,” DeGrood said. “I could not be more proud of her, stepping up and doing what she needed to do to be the team’s rock and to kick off her senior year. Taking two titles is fun but it is wonderful to do it in a career way as she did with all around.”
Samantha Ardy (So., Thousand Oaks, Calif.) took second on the vault with a 9.1 and Emily Anderson (Jr., Mendota Heights, Minn.) placed fourth on the bars with an 8.7. Amanda Malo (So., Greenwood, Minn.) placed third in the all-around with a total of 33.550. Malo took fourth on the floor (9.25), sixth on the vault (8.9), eighth on the bars (7.9), and 11th on the beam (7.5).
“While the meet wasn’t overall what we are capable of, there were bright spots on each events,” DeGrood said. “On bars, Emily [Anderson] had a rock solid performance to kick off the season. Vault was overall decent. We had individuals step up and fill in gaps in the lineup. On floor Lauren and Amanda Malo had great routines and were rewarded for them. And on beam, you had Lauren with the event title but other great individual things happened within routines as well.”
Gustavus next travels to Winona State next Friday.
“We have our starting point for the season now, know what we need to work on and have a plan for it moving forward,” DeGrood said. “We look to get out and build on our performance next week at Winona.”