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Gymnastics roundup: NLS dominates GSL

michael lyne, west central tribune, willmar, minn.
·3 min read

Jan. 19—NEW LONDON — Behind their three all-around performers, the New London-Spicer Wildcats gymnastics team put in a dominating performance against Glencoe-Silver Lake on Thursday.

NLS, ranked No. 8 in Class A, defeated the Panthers 139.650-120.525. The team score marks their second-best this season behind its 140.250, which came on Tuesday.

"The girls did well. There were some good things and some things that we still have to work on — the beam," NLS head coach Cindy Jacobson said. "They have good camaraderie in cheering for each other and that's what we want — good team spirit. They did that well tonight."

Leading the trio of all-arounds was sophomore Abby Knudsen. She finished in first place in the all-around competition with a score of 35.100. Knudsen also won the vault and balance beam titles, scoring 9.300 and 8.850, respectively.

Following Knudsen closely was junior all-around Ciera Anderson. Anderson finished second with 35.000. She earned the floor and uneven bars titles with scores of 9.525 and 9.275.

"Ciera and Abby have been going back and forth all year," Jacobson said. "Ciera will do well on two events and Abby will do well on the other two events. Then at the next meet, they might totally flip-flop."

Wildcats junior all-around Kaisa Williams finished in third place in the all-around competition at 34.175. Her highest scoring routine of the night came on floor, scoring 8.900, and her highest placing came on vault, where she tied for second place with a score of 8.800.

NLS sophomore Kaitlyn Preheim competed in three events, taking second place in each. She scored 9.250 on the floor, 8.625 on the uneven bars and 8.550 on the balance beam.

The Wildcats' best rotation of the meet came on the floor, scoring 36.675.

"I think, especially on the floor, just the girls pumping each other up. All the girls getting excited for each other. I like to see that team bonding," Jacobson said. "Because the more fun they have — and in the past — the better they do."

The Wildcats return to action at 6 p.m. Thursday at Watertown-Mayer.

ALL-AROUND — (1) Abby Knudsen, NLS, 35.100 ... (2) Ciera Anderson, NLS, 35.000 ... (3) Kaisa Williams, NLS, 34.175

VAULT — (1) Knudsen, NLS, 9.300 ... (2) Williams, NLS, 8.800 ... (2) Autumn Kaczmarek, GSL, 8.800

BARS — (1) Anderson, NLS, 9.275 ... (2) Kaitlyn Preheim, NLS, 8.625 ... (3) Williams, NLS, 8.225

BEAM — (1) Knudsen, NLS, 8.850 ... (2) Preheim, NLS, 8.550 ... (3) Williams, NLS, 8.250

FLOOR — (1) Anderson, NLS, 9.525 ... (2) Preheim, NLS, 9.250 (3) Jacey Wischnack, GSL, 9.175

Benson/Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg fell short against No. 4 Melrose at Benson.

Benson/KMS senior Libby McGeary finished in first in the all-around competition. She scored 36.550, winning the vault (9.350) and beam (9.450) titles and tying for first place on the floor (9.100).

Sophomore Gwen Wilcox was the only other Benson/KMS gymnast to earn a top-3 finish. She placed second on the balance beam with a score of 8.850.

Benson/KMS, which ranks No. 10 in Class A, competes against Albany at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Benson Activities Center.

ALL-AROUND — (1) Libby McGeary, B/KMS, 36.550 ... (2) Courtney Althaus, M, 36.050 ... (3) Maria Hinnenkamp, M, 34.175

VAULT — (1) McGeary, B/KMS, 9.350 ... (2) Althaus, M, 9.100 ... (3) Theresia Nathe, M, 9.050

BARS — (1) Althaus, M, 9.300 ... (2) McGeary, B/KMS, 8.650 ... (3) Hinnenkamp, M, 8.300

BEAM — (1) McGeary, B/KMS, 9.450 ... (2) Gwen Wilcox, B/KMS, 8.850 ... (3) Josie Eveslage, M, 8.750

FLOOR — (1) McGeary, B/KMS, 9.100 (1) Althaus, M, 9.100 ... (1) Hinnenkamp, M, 9.100