MHS gymnasts hoping for big season
It took longer than anyone could have imagined.
But Middleton’s girls gymnastics team had its first two meets of the season last week, and showed they could be poised for a solid campaign.
The Cardinals finished in third place at the seven-team Mount Horeb Invite last Saturday.
Middleton also defeated Janesville Parker, 130.40-114.60 on Jan. 8.
“Things are going great,” Middleton first-year coach Desiree Peterson said. “We have a great incoming class of new talented freshmen, so I am excited to see how the rest of the season goes. This team has a lot of potential this year.”
Peterson, who was the Cardinals’ assistant coach the last three seasons, takes over for Alexis Lindahl.
Peterson competed in club gymnastics as a child and later at Oshkosh West She also began coaching during her high school years and continued to coach club gymnastics while she attended college.
“Gymnastics has always been a passion of mine,” Peterson said. “So when I saw three years ago a posting to coach (at Middleton) I applied. When the head coach position became available … I knew I wanted to continue coaching and make an impact on the program.”
The Cardinals certainly made an impact at the Mount Horeb Invite.
Waunakee/DeForest won the team title with a 140.025 team score. Verona (139.20) and Middleton (132.10) rounded out the top three.
Aspen Goth was second in the all-around competition for the Cardinals with a score of 36.25. Abby Arnold was sixth in the all-around (32.40) and Aubrey Halverson was seventh (32.175).
Goth won the uneven bars with an 8.875, while the Cardinals also counted scores from Halverson (8.175), Arnold (7.65) and Lauren Devine (6.75).
Goth also won the floor exercise with a 9.35. Ana Bollig was seventh (8.875), Arnold was eighth (8.85) and Halverson was 12th (8.30).
Goth was third on the vault with a 9.175, while the Cardinals also counted scores from Arnold (8.55), Katya Razenkova (8.10) and Bollig (7.95).
Goth was also seventh on the balance beam with an 8.85, while the Cardinals counted scores from Halverson (7.75), Razenkova (7.55) and Arnold (7.35).
In Middleton’s win over Parker, Goth won the all-around title with a 35.40, while Arnold and Halverson tied for third with a 31.10.
Goth (8.925), Halverson (7.80), Arnold (7.75) and Razenkova (7.70) grabbed the top four spots on the balance beam.
Middleton also nabbed the top four spots on the floor exercise, as Goth (9.30) was first, followed by Bollig (8.70), Leslie Koepcke (8.25) and Arnold (8.25).
Goth was also first on the uneven bars (9.025), while Halverson was second (8.25), Razenkova was fourth (7.35) and Arnold was fifth (6.95).
And on the vault, Arnold and Goth tied for second (8.15), Bollig was fourth (8.10) and Halverson was fifth (7.75).
