The Stevens Point Area Senior High School (SPASH) gymnastics team took first place at the Eau Claire Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 12. The Panthers finished with a score of 139.875, with Memorial finishing second with 136.75 and Wisconsin Rapids finishing third with 135.6.
The event is one of the largest the team will take part in, with 60 athletes competing in each event. Twelve teams were represented at the Invitational, including all five of SPASH's conference foes.
"Our gymnasts performed especially well on the floor and bars and it was nice to compete against all of our conference teams this far in advance of the conference meet," said SPASH coach Mary Olszewski.
Kaity Munsey placed second in the all-around competition with a score of 35.625. Raenee Bugarske finished second with 35.15 and Kim Klosno also finished in the top 10, taking seventh-place with 34.25.
SPASH had three top-10 finishers in the vault and bars. In the vault, Bugarske took first (9.075), Munsey seventh (8.8) and Carrie Williamson ninth (8.7). On the bars, Anne Simonis took second (9.175), Munsey finished third (8.95) and Klosno took eighth (8.65).
Munsey finished second (9) and Klosno third (8.85) on the beam. In the floor exercise Bugarske took first (9.1), Munsey third (8.875), Klosno sixth (8.65) and Nikki Cruz finished seventh (8.625).
On Tuesday, Jan. 15, the Panthers defeated Antigo, 138.65-126.35, at a conference dual meet. "Although scores did not reflect it, this was one of our better meets," Olszewski said. "All events were strong with gymnasts performing clean routines. I'm confident our team score will go up on our next meet."
Bugarske captured the all-around title with a score of 34.75. Munsey placed second (34.575) and Klosno took third (33.85).
Munsey placed first in the floor exercise (9.0) and the bars (9.125), while Bugarske took first in the vault (9.1) and Jenna Weinbauer placed first on the balance beam (8.45).
Additionally, Munsey and Klosno tied for second in the vault (8.75), Bugarske took second in the floor exercise (8.75) and third on the beam (8.3), Cruz finished third in the floor exercise (8.65) and second on the beam (8.4) and Stefanie Neidermann finished third (8.75) on the beam.