BRAINERD — Head coach Jessica Lofrano Larson called it a day of attendance.
The Brainerd Warriors took down the Bemidji Lumberjacks 131.8-128.35 on Tuesday, December 12, in their last meeting before the Brainerd Holiday Invite on Saturday, December 16.
Brainerd’s score of 131.8 may be lower than the 132.375 she posted against Fergus Falls last week, but Lofrano-Larson isn’t worried about the low score.
“We were expecting a lower score because we made a lot of promotions today knowing that we have a Holiday Invite coming up this weekend,” Lufrano Larson said. “This was our opportunity to make some improvements and see how they fit into the routine. Today was a good time to do that. It’s not a conference meet, so it doesn’t count toward our conference points. It didn’t all come together, but it was good to get them ready for Saturday’s game.”
Brainerd still scored victories in three of the four events. Aubrey DeWitt of Bemidji won the all-around title with a score of 34.35.
Steve Coles/Brainerd Dispatch
The Warriors competed with three girls in each place.
Brainerd captain Anaka Schroeder placed fourth in the all-around with a score of 31.7.
Schroeder took the beam title with an 8.85. Laurend’s Lauren Castle was second on beam with a time of 8.15.
“Our main goal today was to work on the upgrades heading into the Holiday Invite,” Schroeder said. “I think everyone has done a really good job with their promotions and sometimes that leads to downfall, but I’m really proud of everyone for what they’ve done.”
Beam is the event where Schroeder excels the most.
“Wanaka and I were kind of laughing about going to the meeting today,” Lufrano Larson said. “Beam is usually a nervous event for a lot of people. We were laughing because of all the people, Anaka is the most comfortable on beam. It’s an event at her house and she looks comfortable and confident there.”
Steve Coles/Brainerd Dispatch
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve gotten better at keeping my composure and calming myself down,” Schroeder added.
Castle was the top scorer in the all-around in Brainerd with a score of 33.625, which placed her in second place. Castle won on floor with a score of 9.175. DeWitt also scored over nine on the floor with a 9.05 for Bemidji.
“She’s a really tough competitor,” Lofrano-Larson said of Castle. “She’s consistent when it matters. She’s made an upgrade in her floor routine and it’s gone well. She has some improvements she can make on the vault.”
Steve Coles/Brainerd Dispatch
Sydney Jones of Brainerd scored a first-place 8.75 on vault. Castle, along with DeWitt, were 8.7 seconds behind.
“Sydney does a unique vault because it’s full of hand springs,” Lufrano Larson said. “It’s just a solid vault that we can always rely on, which is really good in a meet where you’re doing a lot of upgrades.”
Sophia White was the third female warrior to compete in the all-around. She finished third with a time of 32.55.
White placed second on bars with a score of 8.4. DeWitt won the event with a score of 8.7.
“It was fun to put Sofia everywhere,” Lufrano Larson said. “She’s had a solid beam and solid bars for a long time. We’re working on this new vault with her. The floor was struggling because she had a hard time rolling back. It was really good to see her break through and throw those flips again.”
Seven schools will be at Brainerd’s Holiday Invite on Saturday, an event the gymnasts look forward to every year.
“It’s a fun meet because a lot of teams that didn’t participate in our conference are attending,” Schroeder said. “So, we see a lot of new teams and they are very good. It’s fun to see good gymnasts and be inspired by them.”
Steve Coles/Brainerd Dispatch
Brainerd 131.8, Bemidji 128.35
Vault: 1-Sydney Jones (road) 8.75, 2-Lauren Castle (road) 8.7, 6-Sophia White (road) 8.25, 7-Maren Ellingson (road) 8.15, 8-Anaka Schroeder (road) 8.0
Uneven parallel bars: 1-DeWitt 8.7, 2-White 8.4, 3-Tia Brueggemann (postal route) 7.75, 4-Cassell 7.6, 6-Schroeder 7.45
Balance beam: 1-Schroeder 8.85, 2-Castle 8.15, 6-Tatum Kristofferson (Bread) 7.675, 9-White 7.25, 10-Ellingson 6.65
Floor exercises: 1-Citadel 9.175, 3-Ellingson 8.85, 4-White 8.65, 7-Brooke Hennis 8.05, 9-Schroder 7.4
Overall: 1-DeWitt 34.35, 2-Castle 33.625, 3-White 32.55, 4-Schroeder 31.7
Overall: Cold 2-0. NEXT: Brainerd hosts the Holiday Invite at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16.
CONRAD ENGSTROM can be contacted at 218-855-5861 or conrad.engstrom@brainrddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/the_rad34.
Gymnastics enthusiasts were treated to an exciting showdown as the Warriors stumbled before the Lumberjack team at a recent competition, as reported by the Brainerd Dispatch. The highly anticipated event showcased impressive athleticism and skill from both teams, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats. The rivalry between the Warriors and the Lumberjacks added an extra layer of intensity to the competition, making it a must-see event for fans of the sport. With both teams giving their all, the stage was set for an exhilarating display of gymnastics prowess.