Gymnastics wins second consecutive home meet

Sophomore+Sunny+Hasebe+dismounts+after+completing+her+beam+routine+during+Fridays+meet+against+the+University+of+Wisconsin-Oshkosh+in+McCown+Gymnasium.+The+Warriors+won+185.875-181.4.

Nicole Girgen

Sophomore Sunny Hasebe dismounts after completing her beam routine during Friday’s meet against the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in McCown Gymnasium. The Warriors won 185.875-181.4.

Sydney Mohr, Features Editor

Winona State University gymnastics took home another win Friday, Jan. 19 on their home turf. The “Smile On” meet, held in McCown Gymnasium, is dedicated to a former teammate and gymnast, Brooke Baures, who passed away in 2014.

The Warriors claimed a victory over University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, the final score tallying 185.875 to 181.4. Once again, senior Eboni Jackson took the title in the all-around competition during the meet, the second time this season.

Jackson’s score from her events totaled to be 36.85, toppling the scores of both of Oshkosh’s all-around gymnasts. The gymnast won the balance beam with a score of 9.55 and won floor exercises with a score of 9.775. Jackson set a new season high on her floor ranking and in her bars routine with a score of 9.375, in which she placed second.

Jackson has another shot at making it to the All-American competition for another year, according to head coach Beckie Rolbiecki.

“She’s a stellar athlete, and a great student to work with,” Rolbiecki said. “She brings personality and motivation to all of the girls across the team.”

But Jackson is not the only athlete who performed well in this meet. Senior Katie Pipp placed first in uneven parallel bars with a season best score of 9.5, and first-year Anna Hiller also set a season high placing fourth with a 9.3.  Senior Katie Carling placed fifth on the uneven parallel bars with a score of 9.2.

Winona took the top three spots on balance beam with routines by Jackson scoring 9.55, sophomore Kelly Johnston took a score of 9.5 and junior Miranda Saathoff with score of 9.3. Carling placed fifth on beam with a score of 9.175.

Nicole Girgen
Sophomore Breanna Murry performs her floor routine against the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in McCown Gymnasium on Friday, Jan. 19. So far the Warriors have won two home dual meets and came in last place at a tournament at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. The Warrior gymnasts dominated the balance beam, winning first, second, third and fifth place. Senior Eboni Jackson also placed first in the all-around competition.

On vault, sophomore Alana Currin took her place in third with a score of 9.325. Hiller and sophomore Kennedy Utz tied for fourth with a score of 9.3 and sophomore Leah Messelt took fifth with a score of 9.275.

The last event of the night was floor, in which sophomore Ashley Wright finished second, behind Jackson, with a score of 9.475, her highest of the season. Currin and Utz tied for fourth place while both setting a new high score with a 9.375.

All evening, the gymnasts continued to loudly cheer each other on from the sidelines, as they watched as their teammates continue to succeed throughout the night.

According to sophomore Sunny Hasebe, the girls have quite a bond. Before each meet, the girls will make “pump-up buddy cards” for one another to help motivate each other for the upcoming competition, and outside of practices the girls have team dinners together and hang out with one another to help bond them closer as athletes.

“I can’t wait to see what the season will bring,” Hasebe said.

The Warrior gymnasts will be back in McCown Gymnasium next Friday, Jan. 26 for Senior Day. Winona will host Hamline University and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in a tri-meet to begin at 6 p.m.