WILLMAR — Despite a roster littered with inexperience, the Willmar gymnastics team got its season off on the right foot.
The Cardinals won every event in their season-opener. It added up to a 135.05-127.45 victory over Fergus Falls on Friday in a Central Lakes Conference meet from Willmar High School.
This year’s performance resulted in a higher score than last year’s season-opener against Annandale (132.575)
While many of the girls from the home team performed well in their varsity debuts, it was a veteran that led the way.
Willmar senior Abby Coquyt captured three of the four events to earn the all-around title with a score of 35.325. Otters senior Ashlyn Fronning was second with a mark of 33.875.
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Coquyt took first in the vault (9.075), balance beam (9.0) and the uneven bars (8.3). She was also second in the floor exercise. Her teammate, Lyndi Koosman, won the event after scoring a 9.05. The freshman placed third in the all-around with a 33.5.
The floor was the Cardinals’ best event of the evening after sweeping the top three spots. Senior Tayva Carruthers took third on the floor with an 8.925. Carruthers also finished fourth on the balance beam (8.15) and was fourth in the all-around (32.65).
Willmar newcomers Kim Joneson and Kylie Porttiin had solid showings. Joneson, a sophomore, took fourth in the uneven bars (7.65). Porttiin, a freshman, also was fourth in the vault (8.95).
The Cardinals will be back in action at 6 p.m. Tuesday at New London-Spicer.
Willmar 135.05,
Fergus Falls 127.45
ALL-AROUND — (1) Abby Coquyt, W, 35.325 (2) Ashlyn Fronning, F, 33.875 (3) Lyndi Koosman, W, 33.5
VAULT — (1) Coquyt, W, 9.075 (2) Fronning, F, 9.025 (3) Koosman, W, 9.0
BARS — (1) Coquyt, W, 8.3 (2) Fronning, F, 8.0 (3) Madison Muchow, F, 7.925
BEAM — (1) Coquyt, W, 9.0 (2) Fronning, F, 8.2 (3) Tayva Carruthers, W, 8.15
FLOOR — (1) Koosman, W, 9.05 (2) Coquyt, W, 8.95 (3) Carruthers, W, 8.925
Benson/KMS 128.275,
LPGE/B 92.75
Benson/Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg swept the top three spots in the all-around in a convincing victory over Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Browerville at Long Prairie.
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Winning three of the four events, Libby McGeary led the visitors with an all-around score of 34.975. The sophomore had her best performance on the floor exercise, putting up a mark of 9.175. She also added wins on the uneven bars (8.65) and the balance beam (8.55).
Victorious on the vault with a score of 8.75, Makenna Kelly was second in the all-around with a 31.95. Torie Andrews followed in third (30.65).
Benson/KMS’ next meet is at 6 p.m. Friday at Morris.
