Milbank Gymnasts Poised for State

The Milbank gymnastics team is headed to the state meet this week after qualifying performances at the Region 1A meet in Clear Lake on February 2. The South Dakota State Gymnastics Meet is in Aberdeen on February 10 and February 11.

“This meet (Clear Lake) was the qualifying meet for teams to advance to State and was the last opportunity for our girls to qualify for individual competition at State as well,” said Milbank head coach Amber Fraasch. “Our performance was good, however, we left a lot of points out there on bars and beam.”

The top three teams from each of the two regions in Class A advance to State. The next three teams also advance to State as wild card teams. Milbank finished fourth in the team standings with 127.55 points. They will compete as a wild card in the team competition Friday, February 10.

Madison was crowned the Region 1A champion with 140.70 points. Deuel was the runner-up with 136.45, and Britton-Hecla took third with 135.15.
Gymnasts can qualify during the season for State by meeting the in-season standard three times. Brooke Fraasch previously qualified in the all-around competition and Mackenzie Weinkauf had punched her ticket in all-around, floor, and vault.

Earning spots at State during the Clear Lake regional meet were Dani Yamaura on the beam, Maddie Gustafson on floor, and Jodi DeVaal on vault. They each placed in the top 19 of their respective events. DeVaal and Weinkauf tied for 18th place on vault with a score of 8.65. “This was a personal best for Jodi and she punched her ticket to the individual portion of the state meet,” said Coach Fraasch.

Two gymnasts earned a top 19 finish on the uneven parallel bars. B. Fraasch led the team with an 8.0 and 10th place finish and Weinkauf placed 17th with a 7.375. Christina Lusk also hit a personal best score of 6.050 to finish 30th.

Yamaura completed the team’s only no-fall balance beam routine. She was rewarded with a personal best score of 8.325 and placed 12th overall to advance to the state meet. Weinkauf notched a 7.9 for 15th place in the event.

Three girls finished in the top 19 on the floor exercise for Milbank. Weinkauf led the team with 8th place and a 8.875. B. Fraasch followed with a 8.275 -good for 18th place. Gustafson scored an 8.25 to take 19th place and earn a spot at State.

In the all-around competition, Weinkauf, placed 8th; B. Fraasch, 11th; Yamaura, 15th, and DeVaal, 17th. “A gymnast had to scored 32.00 points to advance,” noted Coach Fraasch, “therefore, we have just Brooke and Mackenzie competing in the all-around competition at State.”

The region meet also doubled as the Northeast Conference meet with four teams competing. “The girls performed their routines just once, but were used for both the region and NEC titles,” explained Coach Fraasch. “ Deuel won the conference title, Britton-Hecla took second and Milbank was third.”

Placing in the top eight in the conference standings, were Weinkauf, third in all-around, eighth on beam, and second on floor; B. Fraasch, sixth in all-around and fifth on bars; and Yamaura, sixth on beam.

The State Class A meet will take place Friday and Saturday, February 10-11, at Central High School in Aberdeen. Team competition begins at 11 a.m. on Friday with individual competition slated for 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Results from the Region 1A meet:
Team scores
Madison, 140.70; Deuel, 136.45; Britton-Hecla, 135.15; Milbank, 127.55; West Central, 123.925; Sisseton, 118.425; Montrose, 36.20; Warner, 30.325.
All-Around Competition
8. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 32.80; 11. Brooke Fraasch, 31.55; 15. Dani Yamaura, 30.50; 17. Jodi DeVaal, 30.30.
Vault
18. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 8.65; 18. Jodi DeVaal, 8.65; 24. Brooke Fraasch, 8.5; 27. Tori Hooth, 8.45; 29. Maddie Gustafson, 8.30; 37. Dani Yamaura, 7.80.
Uneven Parallel Bars
10. Brooke Fraasch, 8.0; 17. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 7.375; 23. Maddie Gustafson, 6.85; 27. Dani Yamaura, 6.625; 28. Jodi DeVaal, 6.55; 30. Christina Lusk, 6.05.
Balance Beam
12. Dani Yamaura, 8.325; 15. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 7.9; 20. Christina Lusk, 7.725; 30. Jodi DeVaal, 7.0; 32. Brooke Fraasch, 6.775; 35. Tori Hooth, 6.15.
Floor Exercise
8. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 8.875; 18. Brooke Fraasch, 8.275; 19. Maddie Gustafson, 8.250; 22. Jodi DeVaal, 8.10; 23. Christina Lusk, 8.05; 26. Dani Yamaura, 7.75.

Pictured on beam is Dani Yamaura.
Team photo courtesy of Karla DeVaal. Milbank gymnasts pictured are back row, left to right, Christina Lusk, Tori Hooth, Maddie Gustafson, Brooke Fraasch, Jodi DeVaal, and student manager Jamie DeVaal. Front row, Emily Dornbusch, Greta Snaza, Dani Yamaura and Mackenzie Weinkauf.