The Bucs varsity gymnastics team (above) claimed its first-ever South Central Conference title with a win Tuesday night against Waseca in Winnebago. Marissia Hagedorn (right) competes in the floor exercise and Blaire Zierke does a routine on the balance beam. To see more photographs of this event, log on to http://cu.faribaultcountyregister.com

The Blue Earth Area Buccaneer gymnastics team defeated Waseca last Tuesday night, giving them a perfect 5-0 record in the South Central Conference and the conference championship.

It was the first time BEA has won the conference – ever.

“The girls worked hard for this and are very happy to be conference champs,” Coach Sandy Oswald said. “Now we are looking forward to the Sections.”

Since the SCC was formed in 1972, the Bucs have never won the conference. Several times the team has gone on to the State Gymnastics Meet, but BEA did not win the conference those years.

Against Waseca, the Bucs not only won, they did it in convincing fashion, scoring 134 points to the Bluejays 126.45. BEA swept the top four places in two events, and took 3 of 4 top places in the other three.

The Buccaneers took the top four places in the vault, with Sam Hougen first with an 8.95, Cassie Thompson second with 8.925, Julia Meyer third with 8.875 and Blaire Zierke fourth with a score of 8.7.

Meyer took first in the floor exercise with a big 9.05 score. Thompson was second at 8.7, Zierke third with 8.65 and Marissia Hagedorn fourth with an 8.5.

On the uneven parallel bars, Meyer took first with an 8.45, Waseca’s Kiley Harguth was second with 8.4, BEA’s Zierke was third at 8.25, and LaNay Walker took fourth with 8.05.

On the balance beam, the Bluejay’s Christine Lewer was in first with an 8.4.

The Bucs took the next three slots, with Meyer in second at 8.25, Zierke third with 8.125 and Thompson fourth with a 7.7 score.

Meyer’s scores were good enough to propel her into first place in the all-around, with a 34.625 total. Zierke was in second place, scoring a 33.725. Thompson was right behind at 33.15 for third place. In fourth was Waseca’s Harguth with a 32.75.

The BEA team will head to the Section Meet on Friday, Feb. 20.