The Winona State University gymnastics team lost in a closely matched WIAC dual meet on Saturday, Feb. 2 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin at University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh. The final score was split by a thin margin, ending with 182.2-180.55 in favor of Oshkosh.

The Warriors have scored at least 180 team points in four of their five meets to date this season and have pulled many close calls but are still trying to nab their first head to head victory for this season. 

Vault scored the team a third-place spot, along with a tie for fourth, and sixth and seventh-place. First-year Kaitlyn West managed to earn third with a score of 9.175, a tie for fourth was won by first-year Hailey Bryant with a score of 9.150, sixth was held by sophomore Shelsea Zehr with a score of 9.125 and seventh was taken by junior Kennedy Utz with a score of 9.050. They ended vault with an overall score of 45.400 by six athletes.

Bars moved up to second as the highest place for Winona State gymnasts, as Zehr tied for second with a score of 9.250 on bars, tying her season high for this event. Places were not as high following, as sophomore Alexis Burton, junior Sunny Hasebe and sophomore Anna Hiller took sixth, seventh and eighth with scores of 8.825, 8.625 and 8.600. The overall Vault score ended with 43.650.

Beam brought new hope for the Warriors, as Hasebe earned a season record high on beam with a score of 9.250, which placed her in second for this event. Senior Natalie Hammond snagged third with a score of 9.150. West, junior Elizabeth Maher and sophomore Cora Geiger placed sixth, seventh and eighth, a continuing theme for the Winona State athletes, with scores of 8.875, 8.825 and 8.800. Junior Alana Currin returned from injury leave for the first time this meet and placed eleventh with a score of 8.8.  Overall results ended with a beam score of 44.900.

Finally, the Warriors took to floor, which has been their best event.

Even though their placement wasn’t as high as other events, solid scores helped to give the Warriors the final boost they needed. West placed fourth with a score of 9.450, along with Zehr in sixth with a 9.375, Utz in seventh with a 9.275, first-year Katie Curtis in eighth with a score of 9.250, Bryant in ninth with 9.250 and junior Leah Messelt in tenth with 9.225. Overall, floor was ended with the highest score of the night with a 46.600.

Despite all the effort and hard work of the Warriors, they still fell less than two points short of Oshkosh.

The Warriors will take to the floor again this Friday, Feb. 8 at University of Wisconsin- Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin at 6 p.m. for a dual meet against the Blue Devils.