Kylie Bridenhagen/Winonan

The Winona State University gymnastics team placed fifth at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships on Sunday, March 2, in Whitewater, Wis. with help from Brooke Hiestand, who placed second on the balance beam.

Hiestand was one of four gymnasts from the team to place in the top six on individual events or the all-around to receive all-conference honors.

The Warriors fell just short in the team competition, where they placed fifth overall, but they did top their previous season-best team score from the Best of Minnesota (184.675) with a WIAC team score of 185.225.

The top-three finishing teams all earned spots to the national meet, which will be happening at the end of this month.

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse posted a 188.200 to capture the team title. The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater finished just behind UW-La Crosse with a 188.075 team score for second place. Rounding out the top-three teams was the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, who last made a national meet appearance in 2007, with a 185.575 team score.

Hamline placed fourth (185.525), Winona State was fifth (185.225), the University of Wisconsin-Stout was sixth (184.350), the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire placed seventh (184.250), and finishing eighth was Gustavus Adolphus (177.800).

The Warriors started the meet on the uneven bars, where they posted a 45.975 apparatus total—their highest of the season. Brooke Baures tied for sixth overall with Kellie Dougherty of UW-Eau Claire with a 9.450 to share conference honors. Danielle Thenell also finished in the top ten with a 9.350, to tie for tenth on the event with Steffani Meusburgh from UW-Oshkosh. Jade Donaldson and Melanee Pfautz each scored a 9.100 for their routines to tie for 19th overall.

UW-Whitewater went 1-2 in the event, with Allyse Dieringer placing first with a 9.675 and Cici Talcott placing second with a 9.650. Leah Robinette from UW-Eau Claire rounded out the top three with a 9.575.

In the second rotation on the balance beam, Winona State posted a 45.900, also one of the team’s higher scores of the year. Hiestand shone with her performance to tie for second place in the event with Hannah Lee from UW-Whitewater, earning her best score of the season. Each gymnast scored a 9.625 for WIAC honors. Pfautz tied for 24th with Katherine Prouty from UW-Stout with a 9.275. Donaldson was 29th on the event with a 9.150, and Baures finished 32nd with a 9.000. McKenzie Foster from UW-Whitewater was the beam champion with a 9.725.

On the floor exercise, Donaldson finished among the top ten with a 9.500 to tie for tenth with Erin Olson of UW-Eau Claire.

Pfautz and UW-Stout’s Prouty tied for 25th overall, each with a 9.325. Cassandra Mello and Kylie Fischer from UW-Oshkosh each earned a 9.250 to tie for 31st on the event. Hiestand and Katie Seehusen finished in 35th and 36th with a 9.125 and 9.025, respectively. Winona State posted a 46.225 on the event.

Sheree Roomesburg from UW-La Crosse claimed the floor title with a 9.650. Kaylee Jondahl from UW-Stout was second in the event with a 9.625. Hamline’s Courtney Benson earned a 9.600 for her routine to place third.

The Warriors finished up the conference championship meet on the vault, where they scored a 47.125, the eighth best event total in school history. Each Warrior in the vault lineup earned a 9.200 or better on the event.

Donaldson scored a 9.525 to tie for seventh with Julia Stedman of UW-Eau Claire and UW-Whitewater’s Talcott. Hiestand and Mello both earned a 9.450 for their vaults to share the 14th place spot. Veronica Peterson tied with Kambria Blakely from Hamline for 16th overall, each with a 9.425. Pfautz tied for 29th with Ali Berry from UW-La Crosse, both with a 9.275. Baures was in a four-way tie for 34th with a 9.200.

For only the second time this season, Pfautz competed in the all around, where she earned a season-best 36.975 to place sixth overall. Donaldson also bettered her season best with a 37.275 to finish in fourth. Hamline’s Benson was third with a 37.375. UW-Stout’s Prouty was second with a 37.525. Katie Fiorilli from UW-Whitewater was the WIAC all-around champion with a 37.825.

The next chance for competition for the Warriors will be the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championships, Friday and Saturday, March 21-22, in Ithaca, N.Y.

The top-three teams from the West Regional meet and East Regional meet will compete at the team championships on Friday, March 21, while individuals will compete the following day.

A list of all the individual qualifying gymnasts, on each event and the all around, will be released during the week of the NCGA championships.