Benson-KMS gymnastics team continues strong
The Benson-KMS gymnastics team continued its strong season, winning a home meet with Long Prairie-Grey Eagle during Parent’s Night, Thursday in the Benson Armory, 129.85-117.675.
The score was a season-high for the Fighting Braves, who have just three seniors and juniors on this year’s team.
MiKaylie Hagen won the all-around for the Fighting Braves with a score of 33.95, while Shayla Burns was third, and Caitlin Flower was fourth.
The Benson-KMS gymnasts, who are 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the conference, have the week off to prepare for their next meet set for Saturday, Jan. 4 at the Marshall Tourney.
Benson-KMS has two more home meets over the course of the season -- Tuesday, Jan. 14 against Willmar, and Friday, Jan. 31 versus Morris Area-CA.
“One benefit we have had so far this season is competing on our home equipment all month,” head coach Kathy Ahrndt said. “Things may change some in the New Year when we hit the road and the gymnasts compete in other gyms.”
BKMS 129.85, LPGE 117.675
The Benson-KMS gymnasts won their fourth-straight dual meet with a 129.85-117.675 victory over Long Prairie-Grey Eagle, Thursday night at the Benson Armory.
The 129.85 score is the best team score over the past few years and it comes two meets after Benson-KMS had scored 127.675 points against Redwood Valley.
“Our team set a goal at the beginning of the season to reach 130 points, and I knew with a few more skills of difficulty added to our routines, we could hit that goal,” head coach Kathy Ahrndt said. “We are a team with good depth and talent in all five varsity spots.”
MiKaylie Hagen led a strong effort in the all-around for the Fighting Braves. Hagen won the all-around with a score of 33.95, and also won the vault (9.0), uneven bars (7.875), balance beam (8.225), and floor exercise (8.85).
Alyssa Twardowski, of LPGE, was second in the all-around, but Shayla Burns was third for Benson-KMS with a 32.15 total, and Caitlin Flower was fourth with a 32.025 total, which was just off her personal best of 32.175.
Burns was also second on the floor (8.575), and third on the vault (8.55) and uneven bars (7.725), while Flower was also second on the vault (8.75) and beam (8.075), fourth on the bars (6.825), and fifth on the floor.
Halle Hanson added a third on the floor (8.5), while Sophie Ascheman was fourth on the floor exercise (8.4), Hannah Weber was third on the beam (8.0), Carlie Lenz was fifth on the uneven bars (6.75), and Courtney Johnson was fifth on the vault (8.45).
Photo: Shayla Burns (right) finishes up her uneven bars routine at a recent home meet as Caitlin Flower looks on from behind. Carlie Lenz (left) competes on the floor exercise for the BKMS gymnastics team.
