For the second straight year the Britton-Hecla gymnastics team brought home the fourth place plaque from the state Class A meet held on Friday and Saturday in Watertown.
Estelline-Hendricks took the team title for the third straight season with a record-setting score of 145.933. Parkston-Ethan-Hanson-Mount Vernon was second at 138.883, followed by Deuel at 134.417, Britton-Hecla 133.783, Madison 133.600, Milbank 131.100, Sisseton 130.517, and Chamberlain 128.883.
The Lady Braves had to battle some early adversity to get back in the hunt for a top team finish on Friday.
“We started on bars and ended up counting an unusual fall in our first rotation,” said B-H coach Angela Grupe. “The girls did not let this take them out of it. Beam was our next event and knowing we had to be perfect for the rest of the meet was the challenge. We regrouped, and the girls did just that.
“We hit five no-fall beam routines with near perfection, followed by excellent execution on floor and vault,” added Grupe. “It was an exciting display of discipline and nerves of steel! We talk about these moments and how to compete without fear, so seeing them execute on the biggest stage was really rewarding as a coach. We battled some illness both days but the girls dug deep and left everything on the floor.”
Grupe noted that it is also rewarding to be able to compete and do well against schools that have year-round gymnastics programs.
“Team day is the drive for our girls. We compete with year-round club athletes and those exceptional girls take the top individual honors, but our team is equally solid and can put up a strong team score. It takes every single one of our girls, and they did it together and for each other. In a sport made up by individual scores, we are truly a team, and it shows. I’m very proud of the fight they put out there every year and especially this year.”
Seven B-H gymnasts qualified for the individual competition on Saturday and Grupe will have all but graduating senior McKenna Heer, who has competed since seventh grade, back next season.
“We did not have any top 10 placers on Saturday but I know they are hungry to do more and will be back for the challenge next season,” said Grupe.
The Lady Braves’ coach also pointed to how her team overcame adversity as a building block for the future.
“Jaelee Grupe was able to compete in all-around after being partially sidelined with pneumonia the prior week, and a few of the girls competed with colds, but they all held each other up. These moments in sports are what develop strong young adults. The ability to overcome challenges, accept what happens, and let go of the fear and give it your all is the beauty of high school sports. Win or lose, they always win.”
TEAM POINTS: Estelline-Hendricks 145.933, Parkston-Ehtan-Hanson-Mount Vernon 138.883, Deuel 134.417, Britton-Hecla 133.783, Madison 133.600, Milbank 131.100, Sisseton 130.517, Chamberlain 128.883.
VAULT: Kennady Van Lith 8.783, Abby Lee 8.617, Brynlee Schmieg 8.617, Ava Teveldal 8.550, Jaelee Grupe 8.550
BARS: Van Lith 7.500, Grupe 7.450, McKenna Heer 7.333, Lee 7.267, Schmieg 6.417
BEAM: Teveldal 8.933, Grupe 8.433, Heer 8.350, Taryn Kraft 8.283, Lee 8.000
FLOOR: Van Lith 9.033, Teveldal 8.900, Grupe 8.883, Lee 8.850, Heer 8.700
ALL-AROUND: Grupe 33.316, Lee 32.734
INDIVIDUAL DAY
VAULT: Abby Lee 8.633, Brynlee Schmieg 8.550, Ava Teveldal 8.417, Jaelee Grupe 8.400
BARS: Lee 8.033, Kennady Van Lith 7.883, Grupe 7.583, McKenna Heer 7.500, Schmieg 6.650
BEAM: Grupe 8.350, Lee 8.167, Teveldal 8.067, Taryn Kraft 7.833, Heer 7.717
FLOOR: Van Lith 8.850, Lee 8.800, Teveldal 8.567, Heer 8.283, Grupe 7.550
ALL-AROUND: Lee 33.633, Grupe 31.883
