Milbank Gymnasts Improve Scores at Recent Meets

The Milbank gymnastics team improved their scores at two recent meets. The locals hosted Hendricks/RTR (Minnesota) in a dual meet on Tuesday, December 5, and then traveled to Aberdeen Saturday, December 9, for the Hub City Invitational.

Milbank scored 126.40 points behind Hendricks/RTR with 133.55. “The girls continued to improve,” said head coach Amber Fraasch. “We continue to gain ground as our team score climbed. We had solid event scores on vault, floor and beam. However, we struggled a bit on bars posting only one score above a seven.”

Three gymnasts received their first state qualifying score of the season. They included Jodi DeVaal, 8.70 on vault; Maddie Gustafson, 8.60 on vault, and Dani Yamaura, 8.30 on beam.

Four locals also scored their personal best including DeVaal’s 8.7 on vault, Gustafson’s, 8.6 on vault, Madison Mathews with an 8.2 on vault, and Greta Snaza with a 7.6 on beam and a 31.00 in the all-around competition.

The Lady Bulldogs faced tough competition at the Hub City Invite with 11 of the 14 teams were Class AA and three from Class A. “This is one of the bigger meets that we attend during the season,” said Coach Fraasch. “The girls had great performances, hitting solid routines on vault, bars and floor. All five that competed on bars scored a seven or better, which was a great improvement from just a few days earlier.”

The team struggled on the balance beam, which prevented the team score from raising. “Eighth place is a good finish at this point,” added Fraasch. “We will be working on being more consistent in future meets.”

Three gymnasts added state qualifying scores to their names. Jodi DeVaal scored an 8.7 on floor, which was also a personal best. Mackenzie Weinkauf notched a 8.675 on vault while Yamaura scored a 8.650 on floor with her personal best.

Milbank will host the Lewis Family Drug Invitational on Saturday, December 16, at the Milbank Armory beginning at 11 a.m.

Following are the results from both meets:
Milbank and Hendricks/RTR Dual Meet
Team scores – Hendricks/RTR, 133.55; Milbank 126.40.
All-Around Competition – 4. Greta Snaza, 31.00; 5. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 30.75; 6. Jodi DeVaal, 30.70.
Vault – 3. Jodi DeVaal, 8.70; 4. Maddie Gustafson, 8.60; 5. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 8.50; 6. Tori Hooth, 8.40; 9. Madison Mathews, 8.20; 11. Greta Snaza, 8.00.
Bars – 5. Greta Snaza, 7.60; 6. Maddie Gustafson, 6.90; 8. Dani Yamaura, 6.80; 9. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 6.60; 10. Joci McFarland, 6.45; 11. Jodi DeVaal, 6.0.
Beam – 2. Dani Yamaura, 8.30; 3. Christina Lusk, 8.05; 5. Greta Snaza, 7.60; 5. Tori Hooth, 7.60; 9. Jodi DeVaal, 7.50; 10. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 7.35.
Floor – 3. Jodi DeVaal, 8.50; 5. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 8.30; 8. Maddie Gustafson, 8.0; 9. Dani Yamaura, 7.95; 10. Christina Lusk, 7.85; 11. Greta Snaza, 7.80.
Hub City Invite
Team scores – Mitchell, 144.15; Watertown, 143.375; Rapid City Stevens, 138.75; Pierre, 135.20; SF O’Gorman, 133.175; Huron, 130.60; Aberdeen Central, 128.70; Milbank, 126.10; SF Lincoln, 124.95; SF Roosevelt, 120.775; SF Washington, 120.475; Rapid City Central, 119.125; Sisseton, 116.45; Britton-Hecla, 113.0.
All-Around Competition – 20. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 31.325; 27. Jodi DeVaal, 30.55.
Vault – 24. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 8.675; 38. Tori Hooth, 8.425; 40. Jodi DeVaal, 8.35; 40. Maddie Gustafson, 8.35; 49. Greta Snaza, 8.175.
Bars – 31. Greta Snaza, 7.475; 33. Dani Yamaura, 7.375; 35. Jodi DeVaal, 7.30; 37. Maddie Gustafson, 7.15; 40. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 7.05.
Beam – 26. Dani Yamaura, 7.675; 35. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 7.325; 37. Christina Lusk, 7.25; 46. Tori Hooth, 6.95; 64. Jodi DeVaal, 6.20.
Floor – 26. Jodi DeVaal, 8.70; 27. Dani Yamaura, 8.65; 42. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 8.275; 47. Christina Lusk, 8.175; 52. Maddie Gustafson, 8.025.

Pictured – senior Christina Lusk