Gymnasts fall for first time versus Melrose Area

Melrose Area won three of the four individual events on the way to a 141.45-134.475 victory over Benson-KMS during a WCC gymnastics meet at Melrose, Thursday night.
Libby McGeary placed second in the all-around and also won the vault as Benson-KMS suffered its first loss of the season against the very strong gymnastics program.
The Fighting Braves were set to close out the pre-holiday portion of its schedule, Tuesday (yesterday) at New London-Spicer before getting ready for a home meet with Morris Area, Tuesday, Jan. 4.
Melrose 141.45, BKMS 134.475
Libby McGeary placed second in the all-around with a score of 35.75 and Lexie Hoberg was fourth with a 31.875 total, but Melrose had the top all-around gymnast and also won three of the four individual events to beat the visiting Fighting Braves, 141.45-134.475.
Courtney Althaus earned first in the all-around with a score of 36.45, while McGeary was second (35.75), Melrose’ Miranda Gieske was third (35.0), and Hoberg was fourth (31.875).
Althaus also won the uneven bars (9.3) and floor exercise (9.3), while her teammate, Hannah Hoppe, placed first on the balance beam (9.15).
McGeary earned the other individual title of the contest, winning the vault with a score of 9.325.  She was also second on the bars (9.125), fourth on he floor (8.9) and fifth on the beam (8.4).
Hoberg had a top finish of seventh on the floor (8.35) and vault (8.55) and was also ninth on the other two disciplines.
Elise Duncan placed second on the balance beam (8.8) and was also fifth on the bars (8.125), but no other Benson-KMS gymnast placed among the top five in any events.
Torie Andrews was sixth on the vault (8.75), Gwen Wilcox was seventh on the vault (8.55) and beam (8.05), Taylor Rohner-Swart was seventh on the bars (8.05), and Hannah Rosen had a top finish of 10th on the beam (6.6).
Benson-KMS gymnastics roster for 2021-22
This year’s  varsity gymnastics roster includes seniors Torie Andrews and Taylor Rohner-Swart; juniors Libby McGeary, Hannah Rosen, Emma Krusemark, and Ellie Krusemark (student manager); sophomores Elise Duncan and Olivia Noble; and ninth-graders Sophie Hilleren, Gwen Wilcox, Mya McGeary, and Lexie Hoberg,
The JV team will include sophomores Alysse Swanson, Maddie Anderson, Arianna Nagler, and Abby Hansen; ninth-graders Trinity Schmidt Makayla Mortenson, and Elsie Tolifson; and eighth-graders Taylor VanHeuveln, Ava Noble, Brooke Hoberg, Sophia Krusemark, Keala Carroll, Chloe Naig, and Grace Nagler.
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