February 16, 2022 at 3:29 p.m.
Gymnastics: Short-handed Hodags fall to Mosinee
Gymnastics: Short-handed Hodags fall to Mosinee
The Hodags were one scorer shy of a full team on both floor exercise and vault and fell to Mosinee 107.3-91.9 at the Hodag Dome.
Freshman Sophie Miljevich, fresh off competing in a ski meet earlier in the day, got back to Rhinelander just in time to claim two of the four events plus the individual all-around.
The Hodags also had Leta Cole back in the lineup after missing Saturday's Ashland Invite due to illness, though the team held her out of the floor exercise as a precaution. The team was also one gymnast short of a full score on vault.
"We competed, had a day off and competed right away again. That's always kind of hard too without any touches or kind of a break in between to practice," coach Heather Sturtevant said. "We've got a little list of things to focus on this week and I'm just looking forward to conference."
The highlight of the night belonged to senior Abby Belbot, competing in her final home meet. Belbot led a 1-2-3 finish for the Hodags on floor exercise with a score of 7.7.
"I think that really was nice for her," Sturtevant said. "It tied her best. She got a 7.7 on Saturday (as well). That's really talks to her consistency to what she's doing. Really, really proud of her."
Miljevich placed in the top three in all four events as she took scored 29.75 in the individual all-around. She won the uneven bars (7.1) and the balance beam (7.0), was second on floor exercise (7.65) and tied for third on vault (8.0).
"She had our only no-fall beam routine, which was nice, but there are still a few things we can work on, on floor, even though she did great," Sturtevant noted. "She had a personal best on bars with that 7.1. That was really nice."
Wilberding rounded out Rhinelander's top three sweep on floor, taking third with a 7.6. She also finished third on the balance beam with a 6.6. Cole placed third on uneven bars with a 5.6.
Rhinelander and Mosinee were virtually dead even in the two events where the Hodags fielded a full lineup. Rhinelander had a 20.6-20.3 edge on uneven bars while Mosinee took balance beam 25.7-25.3. Sturtevant said her team had another rough night on the balance beam.
"We had nine falls on beam. If we're going to be close, we can't give up that much. You might have one or two falls each girl, but you can't have that many," she said.
The loss dropped Rhinelander to 1-2 in the GNC Small standings. The Hodags will be third in the division heading into Saturday's Great Northern Conference meet in Antigo. While Medford will be the overwhelming favorite to wrap up the division title on Saturday, Sturtevant said her squad will go to Antigo focused on individual goals.
"As a team we're not going down and winning conference. But now, what my other focus is, is just the girls encouraging each other to really go out there and do their best and see if anybody can get on that podium at conference," she said. "Then we'll look to sectionals."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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