FALCON HEIGHTS — Park Rapids’ five gymnasts had strong performances in their first appearance at the Minnesota State Gymnastics Championships on Dec. 16.
Nora Maninga, Addie Anderson and Josie Bishop competed in the Level 4 competition while Lydia Budzin and Anya Balfans competed in the Level 3 meet.
Maaninga tied for fourth on the uneven parallel bars with a 9.025 and on vault with an 8.625, took sixth on the floor exercise with a 9.00, and was 12th on the balance beam with an 8.725 to tie for seventh in the all-around with a 35.375.
Anderson placed twelfth in the all-around with a score of 34.425 by placing sixth on beam with a 9.10, tied for eighth on floor with a score of 8.575, placed fourteenth on bars with a score of 8.525 and placed nineteenth on vault with a score of 8.225.
Bishop tied for 14th on beam with an 8.725, placed 15th on bars with an 8.475, finished 17th on floor with an 8.675 and was 19th on vault with a 7.925 to take 17th in the all-around with a 33.80.
As a team, Maninga, Anderson and Bishop placed 28th with a score of 103.60. The Rising Stars won the state title with a score of 113.925 in the 28-team Level 4 meet.
Budzien finished 19th in the all-around with a 33.125, tied for 14th on vault with a 9.10, finished 17th on beam with an 8.25, finished 20th on floor with a 7.925 and finished 21st on bars with a 7.85.
Balfanz finished 15th on bars with a score of 8.475, tied for 19th on beam with a 7.60, tied for 20th on vault with an 8.75 and finished 22nd on floor with a 6.55 to place 22nd in the all-around with a 31.375.
“We had a great performance our first time there,” coach James Sanchez said. “They handled the pressure of the big day extremely well and I couldn’t be prouder of their individual performance.”
1982 graduate of Dawson Boyd High School
1987 graduate of Morehead State University
Park Rapids Sports Reporter since 1987