February 24, 2017 at 2:55 p.m.
Hodag gymnasts finish 6th at sectionals
Hodag gymnasts finish 6th at sectionals
Harlie Zimmermann was a no-go for Thursday's meet to go along with Stephanie Kuester and Alyssa Mitchell who were already on the injured list. The Hodags still managed a score of 108.05 points and were the third-best of the five Great Northern Conference Small division schools in the field.
"The girls still did really well. We had to continue to throw people up to being varsity and even being all-arounds even if they weren't going to be," RHS co-coach Heather Sturtevant said. "We only ended up with a score of 108.05 but, honestly, scores were very low just all around. One girl got two 9s out of the entire meet and that was it."
Perennial powers Ashland and Antigo finished first and second to nab the two berths for the team portion of the state tournament, set for next weekend in Wisconsin Rapids. Those two teams, along with Rice Lake, monopolized the individual state qualifying spots as well. The Hodags had only one individual top-10 finish on Thursday, a 10th-place showing for junior Makayla Kuester on uneven bars (6.85). The top five in each individual event, and the all-around, qualify for state.
Sophomore Raven Sturtevant was Rhinelander's top performer in the all-around, placing 11th with a score of 29.5. She was Rhinelander's top finisher on balance beam (15th, 7.6) and tied with Kuester for Rhinelander's best showing on the floor exercise (12th, 7.85). Kuester led the Hodags on vault (15th, 8.25).
"The girls just really did a good job. They knew we weren't coming down here to go as a team to state, so we were really trying to work on individual accomplishments," Heather Sturtevant said. "The girls were just trying to end doing their best. Even if the scores were a little lower because of the judges we had today, they knew what they were doing that was better. They knew that they were going out and doing their individual best."
That included some individual highlights for the team.
"Raven landing her two back handsprings and having a no-fall routine, that was huge," Heather Sturtevant said. "Amber Briggs, we had to pull her back up on beam and she had a very solid routine (25th, 7.125), really got some very high bonuses in her routine that were just awesome to see. Makayla Kuester got a (season) best for floor. She's coming back from injury, so that was big. Cassie (Choinski) threw up a really good vault (29th, 7.75). That was her best vault this year."
The Hodags' team score suffered on uneven bars, where they had only four girls compete due to the myriad of injuries and illnesses. They committed only five falls as a team on balance beam, and finished strong with a 28.525 on floor.
"Ending on floor, we told the girls, 'This is your last event, really sell your routines.' And the girls did," Sturtevant said. "They really kind of upped their showmanship and were really finishing their skills. That was really fun to watch."
If there was a silver lining to an injury-plagued season that likely cost the Hodags in their GNC Small title defense, it's that all the injured players, and those who filled their shoes, are underclassmen. Sturtevant said the varsity experience a number of her gymnasts got this season should bode well for next year.
"Now, hopefully, the girls will have plenty of time to heal," she said. "If we can really start with Alyssa and Steph coming back and then with Raven and Harlie and some of these other girls that were filling in to round out each event, we can only look up for next season. I'm very excited and hope that, that all works and everybody is back."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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