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February 07, 2006
Piper gymnasts start season with fresh mix of talent
Hamline’s womens gymnatics team has been doing well this past month despite the loss of seven seniors.
“Our biggest challenge has been that we have many new people. There’s been a big, new mix of people, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just a challenge.” said Doug Byrnes, head coach of the gymnastics team. “Everyone is just trying to figure out their places and get used to their environment.”
The Pipers started the season with a loss to UW-Oshkosh on Jan. 6 with a meet that ended in a close score of 167.475-169.325. Hamline has placed first at the UW-Eau Claire Invitational with a score of 174.45 over Eau Claire’s 173.05 and UW-Whitewater’s 169.0 on January 14. Hamline’s second match-up with Whitewater was on January 22, and the Pipers came out on top again, this time with a score of 172.25 over 166.125.
First-year Kayla Sirmans has been a major asset to this year’s team. Sirmans is a level 10 gymnast with lots of experience and specializes in the bars. She was the only Piper to compete in the all-around at the meet against Oshkosh in which she posted a 33.175 in the four events, including the night’s highest score in the vault (9.125) and in the balance beam (8.4). At the UW-Eau Claire Invitational, Sirmans won the uneven bars with a score of 9.05 and the vault with a score of 9.275.
First-year Brynn Stenslie was another great find for Hamline. She finished her senior year of high school as a national USAG level nine gymnast and has already taken first in the balance beam with a score of 8.925 at the UW-Eau Claire Invitational and first in the floor exercise with a score of 9.2 against Whitewater. Other freshmen starting their college career at Hamline are Alisha Anderson, Nicole Brohmer, Ali Clausen, Jessica Ferguson, Alex Hughes, Ashley Maxson, Andrea Stohmeyer, and Kristen Weniger.
Also finishing at the top for the Pipers were senior Emily Wind in the uneven bars with 9.125 (Oshkosh) and with 9.025 (Whitewater); junior Caitlin Goodin with 9.050 in the balance beam (Whitewater); freshman Alex Hughes in the vault with 9.25 (Whitewater); and first-year Kristen Weniger in the floor exercise with 9.025 (Oshkosh), floor exercise with 9.425 (Eau Claire), and all-around with 35.85 (Eau Claire).
Byrnes said, “This year’s team was a little bit rough to start with, but they’re coming together well. They should do as well as last year’s team if not better.” Last year the Pipers placed 5th at Regionals. Byrns expects a peak performance from the Pipers at regionals. “We’ll do our best. Where it takes us, it takes us.”
The Pipers will compete at the Best of Minnesota along with University of Minnesota, Gustavus and Winona State at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11.
Posted by dwright at February 7, 2006 12:25 AM
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