SHS gymnasts take second-place trophy in weekend meet

The Superior High School gymnastics team posted its highest team score of the season Saturday to finish in second place at Ashland’s Valentine’s Invite.

Ashland won the meet with a team score of 143.075, and the Spartans followed with 126.125 points. Also competing were Rhinelander, Grantsburg, St. Croix Falls, Lakeland and Chequamegon.

Three Superior girls also earned individual awards. Jessica Engstrom was third on the bars, fourth on vault and fifth on beam and floor to finish fourth in the all-around. Laura Schwartz tied with teammate Shana Soul for fifth place on the vault. Schwartz was seventh overall in the all-around, and Soul added a seventh-place finish on the beam.

Gymnasts exceeded their personal high scores were: Engstrom on beam, bars and all-around; Schwartz on beam, bars and all-around; and Haley Johnson on floor.

Superior’s final meet of the regular season is a home meet Friday with Ashland at Twin Ports Gymnastics Center. The event will serve as parents’ night and senior night for the Spartan gymnasts. Competition begins at 6 p.m.

Team results

1. Ashland, 143.075; 2. Superior, 126.125; 3. Rhinelander, 124.325; 4. Grantsburg, 120.950; 5. St. Croix Falls, 119.350; 6. Lakeland, 91.60; 7. Chequamegon, 87.775.

Superior individual results

Flr. Beam Bars Vlt. All

Jessica Engstrom 8.55 8.70 9.00 8.675 34.925

Laura Schwartz 7.40 8.10 7.45 8.60 31.550

Whitney Podgorak 7.40 7.15 6.35 7.25 28.150

Carissa Welch 7.00 6.20 6.25 7.35 26.800

Shana Soul 8.20 8.35 x 8.60 x

Stephanie Caldwell x 5.75 x x x

Haley Johnson 4.85 x x x x

Ronnie Markley x x 2.50 7.15 x

The SHS gymnasts lost a very close dual meet with Rice Lake Feb. 4, as the Warriors finished about two points ahead. The Spartan varsity squad scored 121.225 team points and Rice Lake had 123.300.

Individually, Spartan gymnasts took first in one event and second in three others. Engstrom placed first on the vault, second on floor and third on the bars to finish second in the all-around standings. Schwartz took second in the vault to give Superior a 1-2 finish and also placed third on the balance beam. Soul was the Spartans’ top gymnast on the beam, placing second with a score of 8.0.

In other action, Johnson bettered her own personal high score on the beam and floor. Stacy Tribby also topped her personal record on the floor, and Schwartz, Stephanie Caldwell and Carissa Welch all set personal records on the beam.

Varsity Individual Scores

Vlt. Bars Beam Flr. All

Laura Schwartz 8.40 6.875 7.65 7.70 30.625

Jessica Engstrom 8.50 7.925 7.35 8.575 32.350

Whitney Podgorak 7.75 6.30 7.10 7.175 28.325

Shana Soul 8.15 x 8.00 8.20 x

Carissa Welch x 5.175 x 6.95 x

Stephanie Caldwell x x 7.50 x x

Ronnie Markley 7.575 x x x x

JV Individual Scores

Vlt. Bars Beam Flr.

Carissa Welch 7.40 x 6.40 x

Abbie Bronson x x 3.90 3.75

Haley Johnson x x 3.90 4.30

Stephanie Caldwell 6.70 x x x

Stacy Tribby x x x 4.30

Ronnie Markley x x 4.55 x

Tags: sports, superior, spartans, gymnastics