WDA gymnasts head to state competition
DICKINSON – The ND state gymnastics season comes down to one final weekend of competition. The state championships are Friday, Feb. 23 and Saturday, Feb. 24 in Dickinson. The host Midgets have won the past eight state title and are the favorites to do so again. Dickinson boasts talent and depth. WDA rivals Jamestown and Minot High are also in the mix for top three finishes. Teams from the east, including Grand Forks, Fargo, Valley City and Wahpeton-Breckenridge will also be competing.
The first day of competition is for the team championship. Each team will complete a rotation in the four events – vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor routine. Cumulative scores will determine the winner. The second day will be for individual honors. All eight WDA teams will compete this week. Six schools will compete on day one (Dickinson, Jamestown, Minot High, Century, Mandan and Bismarck Legacy). Bismarck High and Northwest Stars (Ray-Stanley-Tioga) will have gymnasts participating in the individual championships.
Bismarck Century: The Patriots were fourth at the WDA Championships last week. The team’s top all-around performer was Teah Schulte. The senior placed ninth and was the Patriots’ top scorer in the uneven bars, balance beam and floor routine. Peyton Holje led the squad in the vault.
Bismarck High: The Demons were seventh at the WDA Championship last week. Freshman Berklee Ketterling was the squad’s top all-around performer, finishing 30th. Senior Alyson Krug was the Demons’ leading scorer in the uneven bars and balance beam. Ketterling had the best team score in the floor routine and Gaby Garcia had the top result in the vault.
Bismarck Legacy: The Sabers were sixth at the WDA Championships last week. The team’s top all-around performer was sophomore Aurora Herman. She was sixth in all-around scoring and was the top scorer in all four events for Legacy.
Dickinson: The Midgets defended its WDA Championship for a seventh year in a row. Aspen Roadarmel was meet’s top all-around performer. The sophomore also led the team in the floor routine. Elizabeth Karsky led the team on the vault and balance beam. Brooklyn Wariner was the team’s leading performer on the uneven bars. Five Dickinson gymnasts finished in the top 15 in total scoring.
Jamestown: The Blue Jays were runner-up at last week’s WDA Championships. Junior Julia Skari was the team’s best finisher in all-around scoring, placing third. Skari was the squad’s leader in the vault and uneven bars. Madelynn Nagel had the best team score on the balance beam and Allysah Larson led in the floor routine.
Mandan: The Braves were fifth at the WDA Championships last week. Senior Jericah Lockner placed 14th in all-around scoring to pace the Braves. She was the team leader on the balance beam and in the floor routine. Taylor Arnegard had a team-high performance on the vault. Jenna Eversole led the team in the uneven bars.4
Minot High: The Majettes were third at the WDA Championships last week. Junior Haley Conklin was fifth in all-around scoring to lead the squad. She was the team leader in the uneven bars and floor routine. Gracyn Bergan was tops on the team on the vault and Pavyn Peterson led the team on the beam.
Northwest Stars: The squad finished eighth at the WDA Championships last week. It was the second year in the program as competed for the conference championship. Freshman Karlee Poff was the top all-around scorer. She also led the team in the uneven bars and beam events. Evie Johnson had the top score on the vault and Myranda Damm had a team-leading performance in the floor routine.