|
|
MARSHALL — The Minnesota State High School League Section 3A gymnastics meet is still roughly five weeks away.
However for Pipestone Area Schools, there was no time like Saturday, Jan. 3 to get a taste of what a multi-team event will look like.
And the Arrows handled this environment with aplomb — finishing second out of five schools with a team score of 127.875.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Aubrey Brockberg is head over heels during her floor exercise routine at the Marshall Winterfest gymnastics meet on Saturday, Jan. 3 at Marshall Middle School. (Star photo by John Draper)
PAS finished ahead of rival Luverne, who the Arrows will see again Thursday in a triangular also featuring Blue Earth Area. The meet will begin at 6 p.m. in the Classic Gymnasium.
Arrow head gymnastics coach Stacie Wallace said more competitors were allowed per event.
“That was a good opportunity for some younger girls on our team to get a taste of the tournament atmosphere,” the coach commented. “Any time we have a multi-team tournament, it’s good preparation for our section meet.”
There also is a noticeable lag time between events.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Brooke Einck arches her back as part of her balance beam routine. (Star photo by John Draper)
“Second place was a nice finish for us,” Wallace said. “We have been scoring in the same neighborhood as Luverne and Redwood Valley, so coming out ahead of those teams was a confidence booster heading into our conference duals with them.”
Wallace was proud of the Arrows’ performance in the floor exercise, with junior Kaysa Douty posting the top score at 9.35. Teammate Vivian Brockberg was next (9.0).
Those scores catapulted Douty to the all-around championship with a four-apparatus score of 34.575 and Brockberg placing third (33.325).
Jada O’Leary from overall team champion Benson/Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg was sandwiched in the middle (34.125) between Douty and Brockberg.
Both Douty and Brockberg deadlocked for the best vault score (8.95).
Brooklyn Evans and Aubrey Brockberg also posted strong scores in the floor exercise with a 7.6 and 7.55, respectively. Brooke Einck scored 7.35.
Brooklyn Evans extends her arms as part of a floor exercise routine. (Star photo by John Draper)
Wallace is impressed with Evans’ maturity even though Brooklyn is still just an eighth-grader.
Mackayla Lange and Ireland Draper have added depth to the Arrows’ available pool of talent as well, Wallace explained. Hatty Fey and Jennifer Lopez also gained valuable competition experience.
Aubrey Brockberg added a new skill in the uneven parallel bars (an uprise), yielding a score of 7.125. Older sister Vivian Brockberg placed third in this event (8.15).
The squad still needs work on the beam, as well as improving consistency. But, Wallace said “we are headed in a good direction going into the second half of our season.”
Pipestone Area Schools’ gymnast Hatty Fey competes in the uneven parallel bars. (Star photo by John Draper)
Arrow notes
Note, Thursday’s meet at Luverne will be cashless. Fans may pay their admission through a card reader at the admission gate.
Spectators also may purchase tickets at GoFan.co. There is a special prompt on PAS’ Big South Conference website. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 students.
The Arrows next home meet is scheduled for Jan. 15 versus St. James Area (reportedly junior varsity only) followed by a home event versus Luverne Jan 23.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Ireland Draper shows her skills on the balance beam during the Marshall Pentangular on Saturday, Jan. 3. (Star photo by John Draper)
INFORMATION
GYMNASTICS
Marshall Pentangular
At Marshall Middle School
Saturday, Jan. 3
Team Scores
1, Benson/KMS, 132.5; 2, Pipestone Area, 127.875; 3, Luverne, 126.225; 4, Redwood Valley, 125.25; 5, Marshall, 112.45
Pipestone Area Schools’ Kaysa Douty performs a floor exercise routine during the Marshall Pentangular. (Star photo by John Draper)
Individual Event Placements
All-Around
(Top-10)
1, Kaysa Douty, PAS, 34.575; 2, Jada O’Leary, Benson/KMS, 34.125; 3, Vivian Brockberg, PAS, 33.325; 4, Mia Post, Benson/KMS, 32.7; 5, Taylor Van Heuveln, Benson/KMS, 32.55; 6, Brynn Green, Redwood Valley, 32.3; 7, Addison Kasella, Benson/KMS, 32.1; 8, Marrs Thone, Luverne, 31.825; 9, Emma Cowell, Luverne, 31.6; 10, Halle Myers, 31.2
PAS Individual Scores
Top-Five Per Apparatus
Uneven Bars
V. Brockberg, 8.15; Douty, 7.475; Brooke Einck, 7.2; Aubrey Brockberg, 7.125; Brooklyn Evans, 6.95
Beam
Douty, 8.8; Einck, 7.3; V. Brockberg, 7.225; Evans, 7.0; Mackayla Lange, 6.95
Floor
Douty, 9.35, V. Brockberg, 9.0; Evans, 7.6; A. Brockberg, 7.55; Einck, 7.35
Vault
V. Brockberg, 8.95; Douty, 8.95; Einck, 8.15; Evans, 8.05; Lange, 7.85