Dodgeville Co-Op gymnasts win D2 state team championships

What a season!

The Dodgeville Co-Op Gymnastics Team made up of gymnasts from Dodgeville, Mineral Point, Iowa-Grant and Highland, topped off its season with the program’s first team state title last Friday at Wisconsin Rapids.

They did it with a fantastic final event - the Floor Exercise, scoring a 36.25 - to get past runner-up Mount Horeb 138.2001 to 137.25. They trailed Mount Horeb going into the final event.

Maddy Klein, an Iowa-Grant junior, won the bars event and took 3rd in the All Around.

Senior Faith Hoffman, a Highland gymnast, was 5th in All Around.

The varsity team had five other gymnasts competing at state in Dodgeville’s Myra Barr, Keira Haser and Alaina Nelson and Iowa-Grant’s Abigail Droessler and Ezmae Sandberg.

They have now won four straigth tournaments: The Lisa Steger Memorial in Platteville, the SWC D2 Conference Championship, Sectional Championship held at Dodgeville and now STATE!

Dodgeville CO-OP 139.6834

Mount Horeb 138.2001

Marshfield 137.25

River Falls 136.8498

Homestead 136.7334

Galesville Co-Op 132.7

Sparta 129.9834

Whitefish Bay 129.9

Waupun 125.4501

Rhinelander 123.0334

Dodgeville Co-Op Results

All Around

4. Maddy Klein 36.4166

5, Faith Hoffman 35.2167

29. Myra Barr 26.5334

Vault

3. Maddy Klein 9.1

6. Faith Hoffman 8.8

10. Ezmae Sandberg 8.7667

25. Myra Barr 8.35

27. Abigail Droessler 8.3

Bars

1. Maddy Klein 9.2833

22. Alaina Nelson 7.95

25. Abigail Droessler 7.8667

26. Faith Hoffman 7.85

31. Ezmae Sandberg 7.6

Beam

3. Myra Barr 9.2667

4. Faith Hoffman 9.1667

7. Maddy Klein 8.7833

17. Keira Haser 8.5

22. Alaina Nelson 8.0

Floor 

3. Faith Hoffman 9.4

5. Maddy Klein 9.25

14. Myra Barr 8.9167

20. Alaina Nelson 8.6833

41. Keira Haser 8.0667

In the Individual D2 State Championships held on Saturday, Maddy Klein took 3rd in a tight All Around with a 37.033 score and Faith Hoffman finished 7th at 35.533.

Sparta’s Gabrielle Bjorkman won with 37.1334. River Falls Ruby Amundson was next at 37.05.

Klein won the vault with 9.45 withHoffman 8th at 8.9.

She was runner-up on bars at 9.1167 to Bjorkman’s 9.167.

Hoffman  took 8th on beam with 8.8.

She finished 4th on floor with a 9.233. Klein was 6th at 9.133.

An extremely happy Dodgeville Co-Op coach Julia Oellerich talked about the season, state, the communities and individuals:

“On the Team’s Motivation This Season

"This group came into the season with some unfinished business. We had a chance at the title last year and came up just short, and that stuck with them. They were determined not to let that happen again."

On the Team’s Consistency

"We knew from the beginning that this team had a lot of potential, but it wasn’t until midseason when we started consistently scoring in the 139 range that we realized they truly had a shot at the title."

On Their Composure Throughout the Season

"One of the things that stood out all year was how calm and composed the girls were. They really competed with confidence and didn’t let the moment get too big for them, and that carried all the way through the state meet."

On a Key Moment at State

"After a tough rotation where we counted a few falls, the girls gathered together and reminded each other that the story hadn’t been written yet. They believed they could still overcome those mistakes, and seeing that confidence and support for one another was really inspiring."

On the Turning Point of the Meet

"At that point we knew every tenth mattered. Myra, Faith, and Maddy came through with huge beam routines right when we needed them. Those performances really shifted the momentum and gave the team the confidence heading into floor."

On the Team’s Bond

"Their bond as a team is really special. Gymnastics is such an individual sport, but these girls truly compete for each other. They’re constantly cheering each other on and lifting each other up when something doesn’t go as planned."

On Alaina Nelson’s Leadership

"Alaina Nelson has been such a positive light for this team. She brings an incredible amount of energy and joy every day, and that positivity really spreads throughout the entire group."

On the Community Support

"The support from the Dodgeville community meant so much to the girls. Seeing so many people travel to state and show up for the send-offs and the return pep rally was incredibly touching."

On the Historic Win

"This is incredibly significant for our program. It’s the first state title in Dodgeville gymnastics history, and these girls will forever be the team that made that happen."

On What the Win Means Personally

"This has been a dream of mine since I started coaching 15 years ago. It’s something you hope for but almost never believe will actually happen. We’ve had so many talented athletes over the years, but to finally climb to the top is just surreal."

On What Julia Hopes the Athletes Remember

"I hope years from now they look back and remember what hard work, dedication, and perseverance can achieve. When life gets challenging, I hope they think about what they accomplished together and what’s possible when you keep pushing forward."

About Maddy Klein

"Maddy is one of the most mentally tough athletes I’ve ever coached. She’s very much a mind-over-matter competitor. When the pressure is high, she tends to rise to the moment and deliver exactly what she’s capable of."

"She had very big goals for herself coming into the state meet and knew she needed to be nearly perfect on every event to reach them. To walk away as the vault champion, runner-up on bars, third in the all-around, and tied for sixth on floor, medaling in every event she qualified for says a lot about her ability to perform under pressure."

"For a junior to compete with that level of composure on the state stage and bring home medals in every event she competed in is really impressive."

About Faith Hoffman

"Faith has always been one of the most supportive teammates on our roster. She’s constantly encouraging the girls around her and offering advice to help them succeed, and that leadership has meant a lot to this team."

"Floor has always been Faith’s standout event. She’s been incredibly consistent there all season, and finishing fourth on floor at the state meet was a great way for her to cap off her senior year."

"This was Faith’s third consecutive trip to state, and that experience really showed in the way she competed. She stayed composed and delivered when it mattered."