Ahrndt, Hagen lead BKMS to second place at WCC meet

The Benson-KMS gymnastics team earned its third-best score of the season during the WCC Meet in Benson, Saturday.  As expected, Melrose Area won the meet with a score of 147.725, but Benson-KMS was second with a score of 131.325.
Melrose dominated the meet, winning all four events, but Benson seventh-grader Mariah Ahrndt earned fourth place in the all-around with a personal best of 34.325 and KMS junior MiKaylie Hagen was sixth with a score of 33.375.
Earning All-Conference for the Fighting Braves, based on a complete season of gymnastics, were MiKaylie Hagen, Mariah Ahrndt, and Halle Hanson, while Sophie Ascheman earned honorable mention.  More about the conference team will appear in the coming weeks.
Next up for the gymnasts is the Section 6A Gymnastics Tournament, set for Valentine’s Day, Saturday, Feb. 14 at New London-Spicer High School.
Other section teams besides NLS and Benson-KMS are Dassel-Cokato, Litchfield, Melrose Area, Ortonville, Willmar, Morris Area-CA, and Paynesville Area-EVW.
The top team and top individuals from each event qualify for the State Gymnastics Tournament, set for Feb. 20-21 at RiverCenter in St. Paul.
WCC Gymnastics Meet
Melrose earned the team title and Benson-KMS was second at the WCC Meet in Benson, Saturday.  Melrose, the second-ranked team in Class A, totaled 147.725 to dominate the field, while Benson-KMS was second with 131.325 points and Morris Area was third with 125.375.
Photo:  Mariah Ahrndt performs on the floor in front of one of the judges during the WCC meet in Benson.  She is a seventh grader.