Gymnasts 9th at Spartan Invite

Sauk Prairie’s gymnasts finished in ninth place at the 19-team Madison Memorial Invite last Saturday. Franklin/Muskego won the team title with a score of 145.30, while the Eagles posted a 130.475 team score. McKenna Breunig had the Eagles’ top performance of the day, finishing seventh on the balance beam (8.875). Claire Hartman and Lauren Uselman tied for 17th (8.350) and Sara Nehring was 33rd (7.650). Hartman was 23rd on the vault (8.250), while Addisyn Ranzenberger was 24th (8.20), and both Nehring and Kylee Ballweg tied for 26th (8.050). Claire Hartman was 21st on the bars (7.750), Nehring and Ballweg tied for 23rd (7.60) and Breunig was 25th (7.50). And on the floor exercise, Hartman was 15th (8.575), Breunig was 21st (8.350) and Nehring was 22nd (8.30). Hartman also finished 17th in the all-around competition with a 32.925, while Breunig was 19th (32.625) and Nehring was 26th (31.60). “It was some seriously tough competition — and tough judging — but we held our own against D1 schools,” Sauk Prairie coach Justine Anderson said. “We were placed in the Green Division, which is the tougher Division, and competed against schools that are competitive even at the state level, including the reigning D1 State Champs (Verona). “The girls looked the best they have all season on floor, and although the judging was tough, the confidence they had out on the floor was incredible and I hope it stays. Ninth out of 19 teams is no small feat.” The Eagles also defeated Waunakee, 131.20-126.40, on Jan. 23. Nehring was second in the all-around competition with a 33.4750 score, while Breunig was third (32.1250). Hartman was second on the vault (8.450), while Ranzenberger was third (8.30), Nehring was fourth (8.250) and Ballweg was fifth (8.150). “Claire’s vault deserves a shout out,” Anderson said. “The start value is an 8.6, and she earned an 8.45, which is equivalent to a 9.85.” Nehring was first on the bars (8.40), while Hartman was third (7.9250), Ballweg was fourth (7.8750) and Lyla Annen was fifth (7.80). Breunig was first on the beam (8.8250), while Uselman was fourth (8.10), Nehring was fifth (8.0750) and Ballweg was sixth (7.70). And on the floor, Nehring was second (8.750), Ranzenberger and Hartman tied for third (8.20), and Breunig was fifth (8.150). “The energy of a home meet was very welcomed — and needed — and helped us secure a win for both JV and Varsity,” Anderson said.