Milbank Gymnasts Overcome Diversity of Challenges to Win Top Places

Varsity Amber Fraasch, head coach of the MHS gymnastics team says, “Unfortunately, the team is still battling illness and injury. Aubrey Fraasch and Gemma Street were the only gymnasts able to attend the dual meet on January 10 at Hendricks (Minnesota). “Fortunately,” she says, “they both had a great night.”

Aubrey had a no-fall routine on the beam to place second in the event, and both gymnasts received personal-best scores for their floor routines. Gemma scored a 7.25 and Aubrey tied her personal-best score with a 9.30 for first place. Gemma continued the personal-best streak with a hit bar routine in the third rotation, and Aubrey’s bar routine placed her second. Gemma rounded out the evening with a personal-best score in the all-around competition and a score of 25.900.  Aubrey place second in the event with a score of 33.850. In her final event, the vault, Aubrey tied her personal-best score of 8.80 for second place.

Because Milbank did not field a minimum team of four, they did not post a team score.   Coach Fraasch explained some of the difficulties the team has encountered this winter. “We did not attend the Madison JV Invitational on January 14 due to the weather, and we did not attend the Madison Varsity Invitational on January 15 due to illness, injury, and the weather.”  

She says, “Due to illness and injury, we have had a small setback in our training, but we are looking to regroup and hit the rest of the season hard.  The gymnasts put up the routines and scores earlier this season, and we are confident we can get back to that level and even better by the end of the season.”

Coach Fraasch says, “We are hoping to be healthy enough to field a full team (varsity) at the Watertown Invitational this Thursday, January 20.” The middle school finishes their season today, January 17, at Britton. 

Middle School  The Milbank Middle School gymnastics team traveled to Aberdeen on January 10 to compete against Aberdeen, Britton-Hecla, and Sisseton. Kelly Wollschlager, coach of the middle school Lady Bulldogs, says, “We started out on beam with Macyn Dunihoo performing a clean, no-fall routine to score a 7.85 to take second place.

Coach Wollschlager says, “Once again, the girls got to perform their kips with a spot on the bars during this meet. Macyn earned a 5.65 to finish in third place, and Jaiden Tillotson had a 5.45 to take sixth place.” In the vault division, Jaiden placed sixth with a 7.95, and Macyn placed eighth with a 7.85. 

“The girls finished the meet on the floor with Jaiden having some of her best tumbling passes of the season,” Coach Wollschlager added. Macyn brought home first place for the Lady Bulldogs with a 7.55 and Jaiden took eighth at 6.25. In the all-around competition, Macyn placed second at 28.9 and Jaiden placed seventh with a 24.65. 

Because Milbank Middle School did not field a full team of four for this meet, they did not receive a team score. Briton-Hecla garnered first place, Aberdeen took second, and Sisseton was third. 

Next up for the Lady Bulldogs? Thursday, January 20 – Varsity at Watertown at 6:30 p.m. (Pod #2) Saturday, January 29 – Varsity at Deuel Invitational at 10 a.m. Thursday, February 3 – Varsity Region 1A/NEC at Britton at 6 p.m. Friday, February 11 – State Team Competition at Mitchell – Morning Session Saturday, February 12 – State Individual Competition at Mitchell – Morning Session

Photo: Aubrey Fraasch