Milbank Gymnasts Soar to Highest Team Score

The Milbank gymnastics team soared to their highest team score of the season with a 130.10 during the Deuel Invitational meet January 27, in Clear Lake. According to Amber Fraasch, head coach for the Lady Bulldogs, the girls sported throwback leotards and warm up uniforms to add a retro touch to their routines.

“The girls had a blast competing in these uniforms,” said Fraasch. “I believe the leotards are about 20 years old. So, it was fun to see them back in force.”

The Lady Bulldogs started the meet with personal best floor routines by Maddie Gustafson and Greta Snaza. Gustafson scored a 8.70 – her first state qualifying score in that event this season.

Milbank continued to perform well in the vault and uneven parallel bars. Coach Fraasch said, “We had strong vaults. I thought our 30.50 bar set in Watertown was awesome, but the girls found a way to top that by scoring a 30.95 which was just one-half point away from a school record.” Gustafson at 7.85 and Snaza at 7.95, earned personal best scores on bars.

The Lady Bulldogs finished the meet on the balance beam and avoided all but one beam fall. Tori Hooth, Joci McFarland, and Dani Yamaura each performed a no-fall routine.

Snaza and Yamaura also compiled personal best all-around scores of 31.60 and 32.00, respectively. “This was the first time that Dani attained a state qualifying score in the all-around competition,” stated Fraasch.

Milbank will host the Region 1A meet at the Milbank Armory on Thursday, February 1. The meet doubles as the Northeast Conference meet and begins at 6 p.m.

Results from the Deuel Invitational:

Team scores – Deuel, 141.0; Hendricks-RTR, 137.15; Milbank, 130.10; Chamberlain, 122.55; Britton, 121.80; Sisseton, 120.50; Warner, 29.75.

All-Around Competition – 8. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 32.40; 11. Dani Yamaura, 32.00; 14. Greta Snaza, 31.60.

Vault – 12. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 8.50; 16. Maddie Gustafson, 8.30; 18. Greta Snaza, 8.20; 18. Tori Hooth, 8.20; 23. Dani Yamaura, 8.00; 30. Madison Mathews, 7.80.

Uneven Parallel Bars – 11. Greta Snaza, 7.95; 14. Maddie Gustafson, 7.85; 17. Dani Yamaura, 7.65; 18. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 7.50; 19. Madison Mathews, 7.40; 25. Jodi DeVaal, 6.65.

Balance Beam – 6. Tori Hooth, 8.15; 9. Joci McFarland, 8.0; 10. Dani Yamaura, 7.90; 15. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 7.55; 24. Greta Snaza, 7.10; 27. Christina Lusk, 6.85.

Floor Exercise – 7. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 8.85; 12. Maddie Gustafson, 8.70; 16. Dani Yamaura, 8.45; 17. Greta Snaza, 8.30; 25. Madison Mathews, 8.10; 28. Christina Lusk, 7.90.

Greta Snaza (file photo)