Alli Joerger – Staff Writer
The opportunity to compete between divisions presents itself as an opportunity for interesting events to occur. In this weekend’s gymnastics competition the Gusties managed to tie with Winona State, something that is quite unusual in the sport. As the gymnastics team prepares for the final few meets of the season, tying with Winona State provides the team with the focus and confidence they need to finish the season strong.
With a tie being so unexpected, the team reaction replicated that energy with what head coach Aryn DeGrood referred to as, “A little moment of confusion and disbelief. [The tie was] a very unexpected outcome and a highly unusual one in college gymnastics,” DeGrood said. Despite the abnormal nature of the tie, the team was able to see it as a solid indicator of their ability to be a force in the final key meets of the season.
The outcome of the meet was one that required an entire team effort and persistence throughout the long day of competition. Some events that were critical in the results were Floor and Beam as highlighted by Coach DeGrood. Sophomore Katy Cash earned second in the Beam, with a score of 9.300. Senior Brooke Merila took first in the Floor with a score of 9.575, with junior teammate Jenna Griffith tying for second in the event by scoring a 9.400. “Beam nailing their performances really kept us going after some missteps on bars. Floor is always a party at home and they delivered, and then some” DeGrood said.
On top of the key results from Floor and Beam, the Gusties had several other notable performances throughout the meet as well. Senior Sophia Redding scored a 9.325 in the Uneven Parallel Bars, earning first place in the event. Redding tied with Sophomore teammate Abby Willis in the Vault with a score of 9.400, with Merila earning the third place spot in the event as well. Merila also brought home second in the All Around, with a score of 35.800.
This unprecedented tie with Winona sets the Gusties up for success as they face the next few meets of the season. As the WIAC Championship approaches on March 5, the Gusties see opportunities to improve and increase the finesse of their performances. Coach DeGrood explains that the team hopes to increase the difficulty of the athletes’ routines, as well as become more comfortable in performance settings before the conference championship. “If we can keep the momentum going the way it is right now, we are set up to surprise some teams and make big moves on March 5th,” DeGrood said.
Another important part of the Gusties’ success can be attributed to the allowance of fans and spectators at competitions. The 2020-2021 season allowed few to no spectators due to the ongoing pandemic, which prevented the athletes from experiencing the energy and excitement that accompanies the presence of supporters. However, as the 2022 guidelines allow the stands to fill with Gustavus students, families, and fans, the impacts were tangible. DeGrood emphasized the importance of having fans at home, stating that the experience has been “AMAZING” and “a game changer,” especially at home meets.
Focusing a bit closer to the present than the WIAC Championship on March 5, the Gusties are preparing for a few critical meets. The upcoming meets are important for both preparation for the conference, as well as the sentimental aspect of the team. The Gusties will be hosting two more home meets prior to the conference meet, with University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire visiting Gustavus on Feb. 11, and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh following on Feb. 26. These meets will be opportunities for the Gusties to mentally and physically prepare for the anticipated conference, as well as celebrate the seniors that have contributed greatly to the program over their time at Gustavus.
The competition between UW-Oshkosh and the Gusties will represent the final home meet of the season as well as senior day. The Gusties hope to have even more of a student turnout for that final meet in order to recognize the hard work and dedication of the seniors, as well as the overall success and team effort of the team as a whole.