PAS gymnasts on good footing to open 2019-20 campaign


Pipestone Area might not have won the battle Thursday night in Marshall, but it certainly laid the groundwork for winning a war, of sorts, after bowing out to the Marshall Tigers 123.45-117.15 in the 2019-20 gymnastics season opener for both schools.

While Pipestone Area was off the pace in regard to head-to-head competition versus Marshall, its mark of 117.15 was nearly a five-point improvement from where the Arrows opened the 2018-19 campaign a year ago – giving head coach Stacie Wallace and her Arrows a solid base to build from.

“A five-point swing is very significant; I don’t think we hit 117 until three meets into the season last year,” she said. “It shows we have some kids in those 4-5-6-7 positions with a higher skill level and depth than we had last season – adding depth to our team. There were definitely places/areas for improvement, but overall it was a respectable start.

Saphi McFarquhar and Cameen McFarquhar led the way for the victorious Tigers, placing first and second all-around with respective totals of 35.475 and 31.45. The former triumphed in each of the four disciplines on the night, while the latter was second in both the uneven parallel bars and floor exercise and finished in the top-5 in all four events.

Arrow freshmen Kindra Douty and Megan Lingen were third and fourth all-around with marks of 30.95 and 29.075, respectively, and joined forces with sophomore Ella Melby to claim three of the five top places on the vault. Melby (8.55) was a strong second in the event behind Saphi McFarquhar (8.775), while Lingen (8.4) was third and Douty (8.15) fifth. Also competing on the vault for the Arrows were Emma Stahl (8.05) and Gabby Peterson (7.9).

Douty was a strong third behind the McFarquhars (9.0 and 7.7) on the bars with a mark of 6.95, and Lingen (6.85) edged out Marshall’s Kaylee Can Hauwaert (6.35) for fourth place. Melby and Aileen Aguilar also competed bars with the former posting a mark of 6.025 ad the latter coming in at 6.0.

In the past the bars have proven an Achilles heel for the Arrows, and though PAS is still behind the curve in the event Coach Wallace was pleased with her girls’ performance on the difficult apparatus.

“It wasn’t great, there were at least two people who did uncharacteristic things on bars, but we were still ok… speaks to our blossoming depth and well roundedness… and we hope to build off of that,” she said. 

Douty (7.55) and Naomi Wallace (7.25) slipped in behind Saphi McFarquhar and Clara Bader (7.7) to place third and fourth on the balance beam. Cameen McFarquhar posted a mark of 6.85 to place fifth, while Aguilar (6.65), Lingen (6.15) and Stahl (5.95) rounded out the Arrows’ participation on the beam.

Douty wrapped up her meet with a third place finish in the floor exercise, finishing with a mark of 8.3 behind the McFarquhars (9.05 and 8.6). Lingen came in fourth for the Arrows at 7.675, and Bader rounded out the top-5 places at 7.5. Stahl was third best for the Arrows on the floor with a score of 7.35, while Peterson (7.25) and Melby (7.1) completed the Arrows’ scoring.

Outside of the bump in points the Arrow enjoyed from last season opener, the team also enjoyed some of the benefits of their arduous conditioning coming into the opener.

“I think they’re in a good position,” Coach Wallace said. “I don’t think all the fruits of their labor are showing yet, but it definitely showed in their stamina during floor routines or maybe a kip they wouldn’t have made on bars last year after already competing in an event or two. They were able to muscle through some things because they’ve been building that strength and conditioning up throughout the summer and preseason.”

And as the Arrows look to build from their ‘good’ start, eyes will likely be on Douty and Lingen to lead the way.

 “Megan has shown a different kind of determination; she’s more hungry for it and willing to push through that fear factor,” Coach Wallace said. “That’s going to pay off for her in the long run, and others can benefit from her example.

“Kindra is a good strong all-around gymnast, and her big payoff will be when she can put everything together on all four events on the same night. That will be a great day for her when it all comes together.”

The Arrows will be back in action Saturday at the Saint James Invitational in Saint James.