ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus gymnastics team kicks off its 2018 season this Saturday, hosting the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire at Sponberg Gymnastics Studio. Entering her fourth season at the helm, Head Coach Aryn DeGrood returns 13 gymnasts and welcomes five first-years to this season’s squad.
LIVE SCORING VS. UW-EAU CLAIRE
“It has been an interesting year so far,” said Head Coach Aryn DeGrood. “The people that we lost last year were such a central part of the team that it has been a good soul-searching year for us to kind of find our identity and figure out who we want to be. We’re trying to trust the process and the work we put in every day at practice and trusting that the results will be there at the end of the season. We have our long-term goals set and when we host regionals we want to have our best showing that day.”
Lost to graduation are several instrumental members to the Gustie gymnastics program over the past four years including Lauren Kershner (Marine, Ill.), Alex Kopp (Wayzata, Minn.), Jaimie Niedermayer (New Prague, Minn.), and Jessica Niedermayer (New Prague, Minn.). Kopp finished her decorated career with five All-America honors, which included the 2016 national title on the floor exercise.
Returning to lead this year’s squad includes Sam Ardy (Jr., Thousand Oaks, Calif.), an All-American recipient last season after taking fifth on the uneven parallel bars at the NCGA Championships, tying a career-high 9.625, along with team captains Emily Anderson (Sr., Mendota Heights, Minn.), Torrie Aycock (Jr., Buffalo, Minn.), and Amanda Malo (Jr., Greenwood, Minn.).
“Torrie is kind of the strong voice of the team and is the glue that keeps us together,” DeGrood commented. “On top of that, we also look to the seniors a lot for leadership. We have three seniors on the team and then one that had to medically retire, Maggie Willis has become a student-coach and has been incredible. Our juniors are stepping into a leadership role as well and they know that I expect not just the captains to be leaders, but all of the upperclassmen to bring the team together.”
The Gusties took seventh of eight teams last season at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference/National Collegiate Gymnastics Association West Regional, scoring 185.625, which was the third best team score in program history. Gustavus scored 47.625 on floor, 47.050 on vault, 46.475 on bars, and 44.475 on beam.
“It is kind of surreal that we have a meet, it has been hard having three weeks off. It has been nice for the team to heal but it has been hard in terms of having just four practices until our first meet. Preseason is long and it is nice to now have all that we have worked towards to be happening,” DeGrood concluded.
The season opener on Saturday begins at 3 p.m. The Gusties then hit the road for four consecutive weekends; twice at UW-La Crosse, and at UW-Whitewater and UW-Stout. The home schedule is headlined by hosting the WIAC Championships/NCGA West Regional on March 4.