March 1, 2018 at 10:39 a.m.
Dodgeville/MP gymnasts return to state meet
Her comment?
"Wow, what a season!"
It was not totally unexpected as the team returned everyone from last year's state entrant but there were some unexpected happenings this year that made a return tougher.
"We returned with most of our team from last year and gained a few new, talented gymnasts, so we knew that another sectional title wasn't out of the question for us," the coach said.
But then some unexpected adversity struck.
"Unfortunately, early on in the season Alyssa Belling, our senior gymnast who has been a strong competitor and leader for our team suffered a knee injury that left her unable to compete. We knew that it would be tough to fill her shoes because she is a talented, and consistent gymnast. "
It was now up to the team and the coaching staff to keep things moving in the right direction.
"We never stopped fighting," Oellerich said. "We worked even harder to advance our skills to make up for the loss that we felt from Alyssa's injury. Everyone really stepped up, including Alyssa, serving as a coach and mentor for the younger gymnasts. The focus, drive, and teamwork is really what pushed us to our second sectional title."
The Dodge-Point squad took the sectional crown at Tomah Saturday, surviving a challenge from a combined Viroqua/Cashton/Bangor team.
"We started on floor with high energy and great attitudes and this continued throughout the entire meet," said Oellerich. "We ended on beam, which tends to be the event that can really throw us but the girls channeled their momentum from the other events and pulled out one of our highest team beam scores of the year. It also led to Miah Lemanski and Elle Honerbaum advancing to the State individual competition on beam."
"It's great when everything comes together, like it did for us at Sectionals," the coach added. "We have a very young team, with the oldest two competitors being juniors, so to see the poise and confidence in these young athletes in a 'make it or break it' moment was phenomenal."
"I'm so proud of how hard they have all worked, how much they've accomplished, and how motivated they are to continue growing as gymnasts. It will be fun to watch them celebrate their own hard work at the State competition this weekend."
River Valley finished third at the Sectionals but first year coach Alyssa Kuhse was pleased with the effort and the performance.
"Sectionals was one of our best meets of the season," Kuhse said. "It is also the most stressful meet for the girls. Even though we went to Tomah for the first time, the girls handled the change of venue and equipment, and scored one of their best team scores of the season."
The Blackhawks turned in an impressive performance on the beam.
"The girls had a great start to the meet on beam," said Kuhse. "Senior Courtney Heath finished her high school gymnastics career at this meet and started us out with a solid, no fall routine. Caroline Iausly had one of the best routines of the year and scored her season high with a 9.1. Ana Andreeva had new jumps in her routine and stuck them as well as her dismount."
Next up for the Blackhawks was the vaulting.
"Vault is always a good event for us. Allie Williams has really improved in the past week for sectionals," Kuhse said. "Lily Hein also had a great meet on vault. She has been working on the landings and took little to no steps on her vaults."
"Bars can be a struggle for the girls," Kuhse continued. "It is hard to gain difficulty and the execution is strict. Kenzie Fruit had a smooth routine with no stops. Ericka Heath has been working on making her routine as clean as she can and had a stuck landing."
The floor was the final event of the day which is a positive for the Blackhawks.
"Floor is where the girls shine," said Kuhse. "Megan Feick competed new passes to gain higher difficulty. Caroline Iausly had a great routine, one of her best scoring a 9.425."
"I am proud how the girls performed," the coach added. "We are looking forward to watching Caroline compete at the WIAA State meet in Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday. Team is on Friday, Individuals is on Saturday."
"The top two teams and top 5 individuals on each event and all-around advanced to the state tournament," said Kuhse. "Caroline qualified on each event and all-around, making her eligible to place on each event at state. If you don't qualify on an event, you can't place, even though you compete that event as an all-around."
TEAM RESULTS
1-Dodgeville/MP 131.8000
2-Viroqua/Cash/DeS 130.2250
3-River Valley 115.7250
4-Westby 113.3000
5-Reedsburg Area 108.8000
6-Tomah 105.3000
7-PdC/Fenn 99.2500
8-Sparta 51.9250
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Vaulting
1-Miah Lemanski, DMP, 9.025
3-Caroline Iausly, RV, 8.550
8-Tessa Bockhop, DMP, 8.050
9-Elle Honerbaum, DMP, 8.000
19-Emma Berg, DMP, 7.600
19-Katlyn Yingst, DMP, 7.600
21-Kenzie Fruit, RV 7.550
26-Lily Hein, RV 7.400
30-Ericka Heath, RV 7.100
35-Allie Williams, RV 6.450
Uneven Bars
1-Tessa Bockhop, DMP, 8.750
3-Mia Lamanski, DMP, 8.325
5-Caroline Iausly, RV, 8.050
6-Elle Honerbaum, DMP 7.950
8-Emma Berg, DMP, 7.400
10-Lily McDonald, DMP 7.000
18- Kenzie Fruit, RV, 5.850
21-Courtney Heath, RV, 5.550
25-Ericka Heath, RV, 5.300
31-Megan Feick, RV, 4.600
Balance Beam
1-Miah Lemanski, DMP, 9.275
3-Caroline Iausly, RV, 9.100
5-Elle Honerbaum, DMP 8.075
7-Emma Berg, DMP, 7.825
8-Tessa Bockhop, DMP, 7.750
14-Lily McDonald, DMP, 7.350
15-Kenzie Fruit, RV, 7.250
19-Courtney Heath, RV, 7.100
26-Megan Feick, RV, 6.300
31-Ana Andreeva, RV, 5.950
Floor Exercise
2-Caroline Iausly, RV, 9.425
3-Miah Lemanski, DMP, 8.925
4-Tessa Bockhop, DMP, 8.725
5-Elle Honerbaum, DMP, 8.175
8-Emma Berg, DMP, 7.950
15-Kenzie Fruit, RV, 7.625
22-Courtney Heath, RV, 7.150
23-Emily Sullivan, DMP, 7.125
30-Ericka Heath, RV, 6.375
32-Megan Feick, RV, 6.300
All-Around
2-Miah Lemanski, DMP, 35.550
3-Caroline Iausly, RV, 35.125
4-Tessa Bockhop, DMP, 33.275
5-Elle Honerbaum, DMP, 32.200
7-Emma Berg, DMP, 30.775
12-Kenzie Fruit, RV, 28.275
