WILLMAR — Since 2018, Willmar and New London-Spicer have been the top teams in Section 6A gymnastics.
From 2018-20, the Cardinals represented the section at the state tournament. Last season, the Wildcats were the ones to break the streak, going to state and placing fifth.
Looking to make a repeat trip to state later this season, NLS was able to best its section rival Tuesday night at Willmar High School.
The Wildcats, ranked fifth in Class A, beat the Cardinals 139.775-132.400.
NLS sophomore Ciera Anderson was the all-around champion with a combined score of 35.625. Willmar sophomore Lyndi Koosman was second with 35.025 and NLS freshman Abby Knudsen placed third at 34.10.
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Anderson took the top spot in the vault with 9.3 and the uneven bars with 8.675. She was also second in the beam at 8.7 and third on the floor exercise with 8.95.
The Wildcats’ Taylor Knudsen won the balance beam with a score of 8.8.
Koosman won the floor with a 9.3 while also taking second in bars at 8.625.
NLS’ next two meets are at home with Wright County Conference duals against Dassel-Cokato on Friday and Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted on Tuesday, Jan. 18.
Willmar is on the road for its next meet on Tuesday, Jan. 18 against 15th-ranked (Class AA) Sartell.
NLS 139.755, Willmar 132.40
ALL-AROUND — (1) Ciera Anderson, NLS, 35.625 … (2) Lyndi Koosman, W, 35.025 … (3) Abby Knudsen, NLS, 34.10
VAULT — (1) Anderson, NLS, 9.300 … (2) A. Knudsen, NLS, 9.250 … (3) Quinn Nelson, NLS, 9.200
BARS — (1) Anderson, NLS, 8.675 … (2) Koosman, W, 8.625 … (3) A. Knudsen, NLS, 8.500
BEAM — (1) Taylor Knudsen, NLS, 8.8 … (2) Anderson, NLS, 8.700 … (3) Kaitlyn Preheim, NLS, 8.500
FLOOR — (1) Koosman, W, 9.300 … (2) Preheim, NLS, 9.050 … (3) Anderson, NLS, 8.950
B/KMS 134.750, P/EV-W 112.150
Competing for the first time in 2022, Benson/Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg cruised to a victory against Paynesville/Eden Valley-Watkins at Benson.
The Braves, ranked 12th in Class A, were led by Libby McGeary. She won the all-around with a combined score of 35.1, with wins in the vault (9.35) and uneven bars (9.0).
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Elsewhere for Benson/KMS, Gwen Wilcox took first in the balance beam at 8.15, and Elise Duncan won the floor exercise with a 9.1.
