The Blue Earth Area gymnastics team added a South Central Conference meet team title to their first-ever dual-meet championship by taking first-place honors Feb. 13 in Waseca.

The Bucs slipped by New Ulm, 132.175 to 131.325.

“Individual finishes were all over the place. Every-body who you thought would take first in their event didn’t,” says Head Coach Sandy Oswald. “Our lower scores were higher than other meets. I believe that was the difference in us winning.”

Taking individual first place medals for the Bucs were Julia Meyer with an 8.975 on the floor exercise and Blaire Zierke on the balance beam with an 8.325.

Meyer’s 33.225 was good enough to take fourth in the all-around competition and Cassie Thompson’s 33.075 was the fifth best score overall. Zierke tallied 32.875 to finish in seventh place.

Meyer also took fifth on uneven parallel bars with an 8.3, scored 8.5 in the vault and 7.45 on the balance beam.

Thompson was fifth on the balance beam with 8.075, tied for fourth on the vault with an 8.75, had an 8.45 on the floor exercise and 7.85 on the bars.

In the vault, Zierke tied for fourth place with an 8.75 and scored 8.075 on the bars and a 7.725 on the floor exercise.

LaNay Walker produced an 8.05 on the bars, while teammate Samantha Hougen posted a 7.025 and an 8.55 on the vault.

Marissia Hagedorn’s 8.8 earned her fourth on the floor and she produced a 7.6 on the beam.

Bridgett Zierke earned an 8.1 on the vault, while Lauren Thompson had a 7.675 on the floor and Emily Clement a 6.1 on the beam.

Named to the All-Conference team because of points earned during the season were Meyer, Cassie Thompson, and Blaire and Bridgett Zierke.

The Bucs compete in the Section 2A Meet on Friday, Feb. 20, in Waseca.

2009 SCC Meet

Team standings: Blue Earth Area 132.175; New Ulm 131.325; Fairmont 126.95; St. James 125.525; Waseca 123.75; St. Peter 119.85.