TAGS teams excel at the Northern Lights Classic
The Level 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 Girls Teams from TAGS South Gymnastics in Apple Valley, MN competed at the Northern Lights Classic competition held March 9th thru March 11th at the Minneapolis Convention Center. It was the final meet of the season for the Level 4 Team. They earned a total score of 105.9. The Level 7 Team placed 4th with a high score of 109.5. The Level 9 team had an outstanding second place finish with a team score of 108.350. Coaches attending the competition were Mindy Kiff and Kevin Brown for the 7-10 teams and Meghan Hargens and Karin Stedman for the Level 4 team.
There were a number of excellent individual performances by the Level 4 team. On the vault, the team’s top score came from Olivia Gore of Lakeville with a 9.3. There was a four-way tie with a 9.0 between Holly Bernardin of Rosemount, Olivia Fiedler of Lakeville, Ailey Kuehn of Eagan and Hannah Maccarone of Eagan. Ella Hillis of Lakeville and Madison Nguyen of Farmington both received a score of 8.9. Jaden Rivera of Lakeville earned an 8.8. The team earned high scores on the bars with Olivia Gore leading the event with an impressive score of 9.1. Keegan Messner of Rosemount followed closely with a 9.05. Ailey Kuehn swung her way to an 8.9. Olivia Fiedler had the top score on beam with an 8.6. Ailey Kuehn and Brynn Hemphill of Lakeville both received an 8.0. Rounding out the top three was Olivia Gore with a 7.9. On the floor exercise, Olivia Gore tumbled her way to the top again with a 9.15. Madison Nguyen followed closely with a score of 8.9. Finishing out the top three was Brynn Hemphill with a score of 8.6. Top all around scores for the level 4’s came from Olivia Gore with an impressive 35.45. Olivia Fiedler and Ailey Kuehn both finished out their meets with a 34.4. Madison Nguyen topped it off with a 34.15.
The Level 7 Team had impressive performances and earned a 4th place finish as a team. Taylor Thorberg and Abby Schwartz, both of Farmington had quality vault performances both scoring a 9.35. Other top vault scores came from Lauren Casey of Eagan who scored a 9.15. Kelsey Dolejs of Apple Valley and Teagan Ramboldt of Eagan both earned an 8.95. Sarah Wilken of Eagan led the team in scoring on the uneven bars with a 9.3. Thorberg also had a stand out performance on bars earning an 8.8 and Taylor Zoellner of Lakeville routine earned an 8.8 on the uneven bars. Thorberg lead the team again on balance beam with a 9.175. Lauren Casey of Eagan balanced her way to an 8.9. Sarah Wilken went on to receive an 8.875. Kayla Brunner of Eagan wasn’t far behind with an 8.825. The Level 7 team tumbled their way on the floor with high scores from Thorberg with a 9.475. Abby Schwartz posted a high score of 9.225. Both Lauren Casey and Zoellner both earned a score of 9.025. Lexie Johnson of Apple Valley performed very well on her floor routine and earned a 9.0. Leading the team in the all around with an impressive total score of 36.8 was Thorberg.
The Level 8 team saw the podium with Olivia Larson of Lakeville placing second on uneven bars with a 9.025. Larson received second place on floor with a 9.2 as well as another second place in the all around with a score of 36.375. Shelby Neumann of Eagan earned an top score of an 8.9 on floor along with an explosive vault that earned her an 8.7.
The Level 9 team had several phenomenal performances. Kalli Opsal of Farmington showed poise on the balance beam, earning a first-place finish with a score of 9.25. Opsal swung her way to a third-place finish on bars with an 8.9. Devynn Saunders of Lakeville performed a memorable floor routine earning a second-place finish with a score of 9.6. Saunders also placed second in the all around with a score of 36.275. Saunders represented the level 9 team in the event finals on the floor exercise earning an impressive sixth place finish with a score of 9.25.
The Level 10 team was represented by Caroline McCrady and Hannah Wilken both of Eagan. McCrady earned an 8.9 on the vault and a pair of 8.4’s on balance beam and floor exercise. Wilken had a stellar balance beam performance for an impressive 9.175.
The next competition for TAGS South will be the Level 8-10 regional meet in Minneapolis April 20-22.
