Eagles’ gymnasts make history

Historic. Momentous. Extraordinary. All of the above held true for what Sauk Prairie’s girls gymnastics team accomplished last Saturday. The Eagles finished in second place at the WIAA Division 2 Dodgeville Sectional, and earned a trip to the state tournament for the first time in program history. Dodgeville’s co-op won the eight-team sectional with 139.225 points, while the Eagles were second with 137.625 points. Platteville’s co-op (134.625), Baraboo (133.025) and Southwestern’s co-op (132.30) rounded out the top five. That marked just the second time in school history Sauk Prairie eclipsed the 137.0-mark and came within 0.10 of the school record. The top two teams qualified for state, while will be held Friday and Saturday at the Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln Field House. The state team competition begins Friday at noon, while the individual state meet starts Saturday at 10 a.m. The Eagles also qualified at least one gymnast in every event for the individual state meet. “To say I am emotional is an understatement,” Eagles coach Justine Anderson said. “Qualifying as a team has been something we have worked towards for a long time and it was finally within reach, but they needed to perform well to get there. It spoke volumes to me as their coach that they were where they needed to be mentally on the day that it mattered the most.” The top five scorers on each event also qualified for the individual state meet, and the Eagles will be represented in those events. Senior McKenna Breunig won the all-around competition and qualified as an individual in that event. Breunig also qualified individually on the floor exercise and balance beam, where she was first on both events, and the uneven bars where she was second. Senior Claire Hartman qualified on the vault (fourth at sectionals) and the uneven bars (fifth), and senior Lauren Uselman qualified on the balance beam (fourth). “I think it’s safe to say it was an exciting day,” Anderson said. “With each successful event, the confidence in the girls continued to grow, adding to their performances as the day went on.” The Eagles opened on the vault and posted a team score of 33.425, which was within 0.10 points of the school record and 1.50 points higher than they scored at the Badger Conference meet one week earlier. Hartman led the way with an 8.575, which was fourth overall. Breunig added an 8.550 and finished sixth overall, while the Eagles also counted an 8.20 from Lyla Annen and received 8.10s from both Kylee Ballweg and Addisyn Ranzenberger. “Claire landed her first handspring full in competition, earning her a P.R. and a state qualification on the event,” Anderson said. “McKenna also landed her vaults after struggling with them for the last couple of weeks.” Breunig (8.90) and Hartman (8.575) both qualified as individuals on the uneven bars, where the Eagles had the second-best score of the meet (33.350). Annen added an 8.10 and Ballweg posted an 8.050. “Though scores were a little lower than typical, five out of five girls hit their routines,” Anderson said. “Unfortunately, Kylee had hopes — and a good chance — of going to state, but it did not work out for her. Luckily she is the only non-senior on the team and can come back with a vengeance next year.” Sauk Prairie then shined on the balance beam, where its score of 35.125 was the best among the eight teams.  Breunig was first on the beam with a 9.40 and Uselman was fourth with an 8.90. The Eagles also counted scores from Hartman (8.425) and Ranzenberger (8.40). “The girls then had a great beam set with great scores and only one fall out of five girls,” Anderson said. “We had a couple of missed connections, but they were clean and hardly wobbly at all, especially compared to conference last weekend.” Sauk Prairie then finished with a bang, posting the second-highest score on the floor exercise (35.725). Breunig was first with a 9.375 to earn a berth at individual state in that event. Not only did Breunig win the sectional championship, she also broke the school record.  The Eagles also counted scores from Hartman (9.075), Uselman (8.90) and Ranzenberger (8.425). “By the time we got to floor, the girls were so hyped up because it had been a good day and they love ending on floor,” Anderson said. “The energy was contagious, and though they all hit their routines, they were a little extra bouncy from the adrenaline.  “McKenna was the last one to go and ended up not only getting her PR, but broke the school floor record and became the sectional champ on the event.” Now, the Eagles will head to state after showing they can handle the pressure and the large stage. “All my girls except Kylee are seniors, so this was their one shot,” Anderson said. “Instead of melting down, they settled in and were confident in their abilities and their coaches.”   WIAA DODGEVILLE SECTIONAL (top two teams qualify for state) Team scores: 1. Dodgeville, 139.225; 2. Sauk Prairie, 137.625; 3.  Platteville co-op, 134.625; 4. Baraboo, 133.025; 5. Southwestern co-op, 132.30; 6. Reedsburg, 126.425; 7. River Valley co-op, 119.825; 8. Prairie du Chien co-op, 118.450.   Sauk Prairie scores Top five finishers qualify for individual state Vault: 4. Claire Hartman 8.575; 6. McKenna Breunig 8.550; 16. Lyla Annen 8.20; 22. Kylee Ballweg and Addisyn Ranzenberger 8.10. Uneven bars: 2. McKenna Breunig 8.90; 5. Claire Hartman 8.575; 11. Lyla Annen 8.10; 12. Kylee Ballweg 8.050. Balance beam: 1. McKenna Breunig 9.40; 4. Lauren Uselman 8.90; 15. Claire Hartman 8.425; 16. Addisyn Ranzenberger 8.40. Floor exercise: 1. McKenna Breunig 9.375; 7. Claire Hartman 9.075; 9. Lauren Uselman 8.90; 22. Addisyn Ranzenberger 8.425. All-around: 1. McKenna Breunig, 36.225; 8. Claire Hartman, 34.325; 15. Lyla Annen, 32.625.