Elizabeth Uecker displays her talent while competing in the balance beam at the Bucs’ gymnastics meet against Luverne on Dec. 1.

The Blue Earth Area gymnasts launched their 2023-24 season with a meet against the Luverne Cardinals on Thursday, Dec. 1, in Blue Earth.

The Bucs concluded the evening with a score of 126.525, which the Cardinals topped by tallying 131.5.

“The things I saw during the first meet made me excited for what is to come for the rest of the season,” commented head coach Rachel Cole. “We had a good first meet.

On vault, the Bucs pulled a team total of 34.225.

“All of our vaults were clean,” Cole notes.

BEA’s Tailor Douglas placed third with her vault, which garnered an 8.775. Behind her was Addison Armstrong with a score of 8.75. Addy Olson’s vault earned an 8.675, while Kyannah Brandt and Lauren Survis tallied an 8.025 and an 8.0, respectively.

Meanwhile, on bars, BEA totaled a 29.8.

Armstrong’s routine was good for a score of 8.575 and a first place finish. Olson scored a 7.275 and Douglas scored a 7.25. Lizzy Uecker swung a 6.7, and Brandt tallied a 4.3.

On beam, the Bucs’ team total came to 30.35. Armstrong led the way with an 8.4, which was good for second place.

Douglas scored a 7.6 and Brandt scored a 7.3. Olson and Survis’s routines earned a 7.05 and a 6.95.

“Bars and beam had a few falls, but we still ended up with over 30.0 on beam and just shy of 30.0 on bars, which is right where I expect us to be,” Cole reflected. “The only event that didn’t go very well was floor, and I had anticipated that.” 

BEA tallied a 32.15 on floor, with Armstrong’s routine landing an 8.925 and a first place finish. Olson earned an 8.475, and Brandt tallied a 7.85. Survis and Uecker’s floor routines scored a 6.9 and a 6.775.

Armstrong secured a first place finish in the all-around with a score of 34.65. Her teammates Olson and Brandt totaled 31.475 and 27.475 in the all-around.

BEA’s junior varsity team also fielded a first place finisher in seventh grader Natalie Griffey, who tallied a 27.5 all-around score, followed by Taylynn Amundson with a 26.15 and Ella Schonborn with a 25.8.

As a team, the junior varsity Bucs edged out Luverne with a score of 109.7 to the Cardinals’ 109.

The BEA gymnasts will travel to Fairmont for their next meet, which is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 14, at 6 p.m.

“The girls know that we need to continue to work on our conditioning for their floor routines and work on strengthening our tumbling skills,” Cole concludes.