WINONA, Minn. – The Gustavus gymnastics team showed a big improvement Friday from its first meet of the season last week, scoring 182.400 in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference dual loss to Winona State, who tallied 184.150. The jump of nearly seven points from last week is the largest team score improvement in consecutive meets since the 2011 season.
“Huge improvement this week tor us,” Head Coach Aryn DeGrood said. “The team did exactly what was asked of them, made the adjustments necessary and improved the team score nearly seven points. I couldn’t ask for much more from them this meet. It was such a fun meet to be apart of with this group of women and it makes it all the more exciting to get out there again next week, at home!”
Defending national floor champion Alex Kopp (Sr., Wayzata, Minn.) had an impressive showing in her first action of the season by winning two events. Kopp scored 9.4 on the vault and 9.525 on the beam, taking first in both events. She also took third on bars with a 9.175 and scored 8.95 on the floor for an all-around total of 37.05, which was good enough for second place.
Sam Ardy (So., Thousand Oaks, Calif.) claimed an event medal as well, taking first on the bars with a 9.4. She also had a strong performance on the beam, finishing in second with a 9.425. Emily Anderson (Jr., Mendota Heights, Minn.) tallied a career-high on the floor with a 9.45, claiming second place. Lauren Kershner (Sr., Marine, Ill.) took third in the all-around with scores of 9.15 on bars (fourth), 9.3 on beam (fifth), 9.125 on floor (eighth), and 9.0 on vault (10th) for a total of 36.575.
“This is a very exciting group of athletes we have and we cannot wait to see where this season takes us,” DeGrood said. “The team is excited to be home for the first time next week and to compete in front of their home crowd.”
Gustavus hosts UW-Whitewater next Friday for its home opener in the Sponberg Gymnastics Studio.