January 25, 2021 at 8:24 a.m.
Antigo edges Hodag gymnasts in GNC crossover
Antigo edges Hodag gymnasts in GNC crossover
Rhinelander made strides on balance beam compared to the previous Saturday when it scored 116.85 in a loss at Wisconsin Rapids, but was slightly off on vault and floor exercise compared to its last time out.
"Their goal is 120 by conference, and I think we can get there," coach Heather Sturtevant said. "Quite a few girls threw in new combinations on floor, new combinations on beam. We know it's going to pay off in the long run, but we did have to take a few hits today as we're working on them."
Senior Bridget Koser had a career night for the Hodags as she broke 30 in the all-around for the first time, finishing fourth overall with a 30.05.
"Bridget finally getting that 30, that was probably the highlight for me because she's been working for four years trying to hit that 30," Sturtevant said. "That was awesome to see tonight ... She's just getting ver consistent, which is what we're hoping for from the girls."
Koser posted a career-high 7.4 on balance beam as she finished fourth in the event. She was tied for third on the uneven bars (6.9) and was eighth on the vault (7.75). She managed to take fifth on the Hodags' final event of the night, floor exercise. Sturtevant said some quick thinking allowed Koser to get an 8.0 for the event and crack the 30-point barrier in the all-around.
"Being a senior, being that she's competed for so many year, in her second pass, she actually was going to not have a pass. She stepped out of her back tuck. She knew enough to add three more elements and make a pass to not lose that event requirement (a 0.2-point deduction)," Sturtevant explained. "That's something that many freshmen, sophomores aren't able to do. She was able to do that and still throw a great routine."
Lilli Bishop was fifth in the all-around for Rhinelander (29.75) while Alexa Lukes finished sixth (29.3). Bishop was Rhinelander's top scorer on floor (third, 8.15), while Lukes was the best on vault (third, 8.25) and tied for third with Koser on uneven bars. Payton Rudawski led the Hodags with a runner-up finish on balance beam (7.55).
Overall, the Hodags were much cleaner on beam, taking a total of five falls, and only two with their top four scorers. The previous Saturday at Wisconsin Rapids Rhinelander had 12 falls, eight of which they had to count in their team score.
"Luckily, beam, we were able to stay on more," Sturtevant said. "Unfortunately, a couple, even though we only had a few falls, but they were in the middle of a connection that we needed for a requirement or those bonuses. Still, it was way better, and that's why the score was better."
Antigo's Claire Musolff won three events and the individual all-around on Thursday night (33.40) as the Robins edged Rhinelander in all four events.
Rhinelander (1-3, 1-1 GNC Small) travels to Mosinee this coming Thursday. Sturtevant said the Hodags are getting close to a breakthrough. It's now a matter of refining routines in the stretch run to the end of the season.
"We just need to clean up our jumps, point our toes, make sure we're in full splits, getting all the way around on our rotations. Not a concern for me because I know we can, we have. We're just a little off here at the end," she said. "I think we'll just continue to just keep plugging away. Next week really counts, being our next conference meet. We have a week and we know what to work on."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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