Spartan gymnasts end season, Northwood girls perfect

The Superior High School gymnastics team wrapped up its season Feb. 27 at the WIAA Division 1 sectional meet in Rice Lake. Eau Claire Memorial/North won the meet with a team score of 133.075, and Superior was sixth of nine teams with 122.475 points.

The top two teams and the top five individuals in each event advanced to the state meet.

Individually, Jessica Engstrom nearly advanced on the bars, placing eighth, and finished ninth on the vault and 10th in the all-around standings. Seniors Laura Schwartz and Whitney Podgorak also did well, competing in their final meet as Spartans. Podgorak finished with a 27.675 all-around score, Schwartz had a 30.875 and Carissa Welch finished off the all-around scoring with 26.075 points. Shana Soul led Superior in the floor event with an 8.475.

“Some were disappointed of course, but I feel overall, the whole season went exceptionally well,” said Spartan co-coach Lynda Ritsche. “At every meet, we had girls exceeding individual event scores and our team score kept improving.

“All those late night practices and hard work definitely paid off.”

The Spartan gymnasts say farewell to four seniors this season: Podgorak, Schwartz, Stephanie Caldwell and Haley Johnson.

WIAA Division 1 Sectional Meet

at Rice Lake

Team results

1. Eau Claire Memorial/North, 141.750; 2. Stevens Point Area, 137.000; 3. Hudson, 133.525; 4. Wisconsin Rapids, 133.075; 5. Chippewa Falls, 125.475; 6. Superior, 122.475; 7. Rice Lake/Cumberland, 121.275; 8. Marshfield, 119.025; 9. D.C. Everest, 117.850.

Individual results

Flr. Beam Bars Vlt. All

Jessica Engstrom 8.325 8.20 8.35 8.75 33.625

Laura Schwartz 7.575 8.05 6.85 8.40 30.875

Whitney Podgorak 7.75 6.20 5.925 7.80 27.675

Carissa Welch 7.45 5.35 5.725 7.55 26.075

Shana Soul 8.475 7.75 x 8.35 x

Evergreens undefeated

The Northwood Evergreen girls basketball team finished the regular season undefeated with a 64-43 win over Turtle Lake Friday in Minong. Northwood is 20-0 overall and 12-0 in the Central Lakeland Conference.

Annie Block finished with 15 points to lead the Evergreen girls, and freshman Sarah Benson had 14 points off the bench. Rachel Hanley finished with 11 points.

Northwood got off to a slow start Friday, up by only three points after the first quarter, 11-8.

The Evergreens picked up the pace in the second quarter, however, and soon built a comfortable lead to finish their regular schedule with an unblemished record.

The Evergreens claimed the Central Lakeland Conference title this season and are the No. 1 seed in their region for this week’s WIAA playoffs.

Tags: sports, superior, spartans, northwood, evergreens, preps, basketball, gymnastics