Whitefish Bay defends gymnastics conference title
North Shore teams ready for sectionals
It was not the loveliest effort possible, but it got the job done for the Whitefish Bay girls gymnastics team, as it eased past a short-handed field to defend its North Shore/Greater Metro Conference championship Friday at Menomonee Falls.
"No one really had a great meet, including us," said Blue Dukes coach Mary Liniewski, "… but it was still a good effort and a big deal for the kids. We're trying to make the difference for our graduated seniors (including multi-time state placewinner Hannah Wallace). We're doing well as a team, but there are still some issues we have to pull together yet."
Meanwhile, Homestead was third while Nicolet, which was short-handed for the meet, was fourth and Shorewood eighth.
The teams will now look forward to WIAA sectional competition this weekend.
Maggie Anderson led the Blue Dukes to the team title with a 141.4 point total by winning the all-around championship with a 36.325 mark. Liniewski said that Anderson had a few bobbles or the score could have been even higher.
Anderson also won the vault (9.3) as teammate Kelly Danek took second (9.2) and also claimed the uneven bars (9.25). Anderson also posted scores of 8.75 on beam and 9.25 in floor exercise. West Allis was second in the team standings with a 138.075 mark.
The Blue Dukes best events were vault as they turned in a 36.4 team score with Tessa Hansen (9.0) also doing well, and floor, where Anderson, Danek and Margaret Fitzpatrick all turned in 9.025 marks en route to a 36.225 team mark. Danek was also sixth in the all-around (35.1).
Bay had one major setback in the meet as top competitor SofieYang sprained an elbow, which cost the Blue Dukes at least a couple of points. Liniewski was not sure Yang could recover in time for the sectional.
Homestead turned in a score of 137.725 for its third place slot, as Katelyn Wright took third in the all-around (36.225) and Cori Sanduski was fifth (35.525). Wright also took second in the floor exercise with a 9.6 effort. Sanduski had a 9.425 score on the same event while Wright turned in a 9.1 on beam.
"We've been putting in a lot of new things so we're still trying to polish them up," said Highlanders coach Marisa White. "I think we still have a big score in us (for sectional). I've poured in all I could into the kids. Now it's up to them to use it well."
Nicolet was without top all-around Leah Fischer for this meet and turned in a score of 136.725 for its spot. Lexi Stevens just missed placing in the all-around with a 35.0 score. The Knights did have a strong floor routine as Jessie Kloehn (9.275), Stevens (9.225) and Alicia Berroug (9.125) all went over nine in their individual marks. Kloehn also turned in a 9.075 on beam.
Asia Cruz turned in a 32.475 in the all-around as Shorewood combined for a 119.875 team total. Her best mark was an 8.8 on beam. She also broke eight on floor (8.0) as did Yve Bennett on vault (8.1), beam (8.0) and floor (8.075).
State qualifying
Gymnastics sectionals are this weekend
BASICS: The top two teams and first five finishers in the all-around and on individual events will advance from sectionals to the WIAA State Meet in Wisconsin Rapids on March 5 and 6.
HARTLAND SECTIONAL: Nicolet and Homestead will be in the Division I meet that will start at 11 a.m. Saturday.
WHITEFISH BAY SECTIONAL: The defending state Division 2 champions will host Shorewood among seven total teams in this 4:30 p.m. Friday meet.
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