Detroit Lakes Gymnastics Finishes 6th in State Championship

ST. PAUL, MN (KDLM) – The Detroit Lakes Laker gymnastics team, champions of Section 8A, took sixth place at the State Gymnastics Meet at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul on Friday evening.

The Lakers began the night on the uneven bars, posting a 33.375…the second-lowest total of the state field.

“We got off to a bit of a slow start,” coach Leesa Lindgaard said after the bars score game in. “But these girls are tough. We have three events to get those scores up.”

The Lakers bounced back with a 35.450 on the beam, a 35.950 on the floor exercise, and a 35.800 on the vault for a team score of 140.575.

“Our goal for State is a 145, ” Lindgaard told KDLM last week. “We won Sections with a 142, and we feel like there are still some areas we can get better. If we can post a 145 we’ll be in competition for the title.”

Watertown-Mayer/Mound-Westonka won the Class A Championship with a team score of 145.750, followed by Mankato West (145.600) and Big Lake (145.000)

The Lakers will have three gymnasts competing in the individual state competition on Saturday: Jerzie Horner (bars, vault, beam), Elsie Ratz (vault), and Gabby Whitworth (all-round).

TEAM RESULTS:

Watertown-Mayer/Mound-Westonka – 145.740 (37.050 vault, 35.375 bars, 35.575 beam, 36.36.750 floor
Mankato West – 145.600 (36.750 vault, 35.175 bars, 36.400 beam, 37.275 floor)
Big Lake – 145.000 (36.425 vault, 35.100 bars, 36.500 beam, 35.975 floor)
New London-Spicer – 142.125 (35.975 vault, 34.200 bars, 35.975 beam, 35.975 floor)
Worthington – 141.950 (36.175 vault, 34.200 bars, 34.630 beam, 36.925 floor)
Detroit Lakes – 140.575 (35.800 vault, 33.375 bars, 35.450 beam, 35.950 floor)
Mahtomedi – 139.850 (35.400 vault, 34.725 bars, 33.975 beam, 35.750 floor)
Byron – 137.725 (35.025 vault, 32.650 bars, 34.325 beam, 35.725 floor)