Strong Performances Displayed by Milbank Gymnasts

The Milbank Area gymnastics team attained their second highest team score of the season -127.45 – at the Watertown Invitational on January 20. They finished eighth in the team standings facing a field of top South Dakota Class AA and Class A teams.

“We had one of our strongest and most consistent meets of the year,” stated head coach for the Lady Bulldogs, Amber Fraasch. “We hit 18 out of 20 routines. This is the type of meet that we want to have going into the post season.”

The Lady Bulldogs started off by hitting all five routines on the floor exercise. Mackenzie Weinkauf posted a state qualifying and personal best score of 8.925. Madison Mathews also had a personal best score of 8.4.

They carried that momentum to the vault where they were able to stick the landing (land perfectly) several times. The locals then competed in the uneven parallel bars. “This event has been hit and miss for us all season,” said Fraasch. “But our bars were awesome and we definitely hit them at this meet. This was probably one of the best sets that I’ve seen in my 10 years of coaching at Milbank. Not only did they hit 5 out of 5 routines, but they did it with personal best routines and were awarded with personal best scores.

Earning a personal best score on bars were Maddie Gustafson (7.475), Greta Snaza (7.775), Madison Mathews (7.525), and Dani Yamaura (7.65). Weinkauf scored a 7.55 – just 0.025 off her personal best in that event.

The Lady Bulldogs also hit three out of five beam routines. “We only counted one fall on the day,” noted Fraasch. One of the no-fall routines belonged to Joci McFarland who received a personal best score of 8.25.

Weinkauf hit her third state qualifying score of 32.175 in the all-around competition. It sends her to the state meet.

Results from the meet:

Team Scores – Mitchell, 145.175; Watertown, 145.15; Deuel, 142.45; Madison, 140.0; Brookings, 137.90; Huron, 131.975; Aberdeen Central, 129.975; Milbank, 127.45; Sisseton, 120.725; Britton-Hecla, 118.375.

All-Around Competition – 16. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 32.175; 19. Dani Yamaura, 31.175.

Uneven Parallel Bars – 29. Greta Snaza, 7.775; 30. Dani Yamaura, 7.65; 33. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 7.55; 34. Madison Mathews, 7.525; 36, Maddie Gustafson, 7.475.

Balance Beam – 20. Joci McFarland, 8.25; 30. Dani Yamaura, 7.675; 38. Tori Hooth, 7.225; 39. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 7.20; 39. Christina Lusk, 7.20.

Floor Exercise – 17. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 8.925; 33. Madison Mathews, 8.40; 38. Dani Yamaura, 8.25; 41. Maddie Gustafson, 8.0; 45. Greta Snaza, 7.85.

Vault – 24. Mackenzie Weinkauf, 8.50; 33. Maddie Gustafson, 8.325; 39. Greta Snaza, 8.15; 41. Tori Hooth, 8.05; 47. Dani Yamaura, 7.60.

Joci McFarland (file photo)