Two members of the Blue Earth Area gymnastics team competed at the State Class A Gymnastics Meet on Friday, Feb. 27.

Julia Meyer and Blaire Zierke both qualified at the Section 2A Gymnastics Meet to move on to the state meet.

Meyer placed third on the balance beam at the section, scoring a 9.025.

Unfortunately, Meyer fell twice during her routine at state. Her score of 7.087 placed her at 32nd. Her high during the season on the beam was 9.15.

“It was a bit disappointing for her,” Coach Sandy Oswald said. “She nailed the more complicated moves she has on her routine on the beam, but fell on two turns.”

Oswald said Meyer was the last competitor on the beam, and that may have had something to do with it.

“She had to wait a long time, and wasn’t as loose as she could have been,” Oswald said.

Zierke fared better. She qualified for state in the all-around event. At the state meet she scored a 34.3, just slightly less than her season best score of 34.8.

Zierke got an 8.725 on the vault, an 8.362 on the bars, 8.250 on the beam, and an 8.9 on the floor exercise.

“At state there are four judges for each event, so it is a little harder to score high there,” Oswald said. “But Blaire nailed her events.”

Zierke took 29th in the state competition.

Both girls are sophomores at BEA, so they could be back next year. This was the first time since 2005 that BEA had gymnasts at the state meet. That year the team went to state, and three girls went as individuals as well.

The state meet was held at the Sports Pavilion at the University of Minnesota, Oswald said. It usually has been held at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

“It will be at the Sports Pavilion for the next several years,” Oswald said. “Hopefully we will be able to bring more girls up here next year, to experience the state meet.”