Paynesville gymnasts won their home triangular last Tuesday, Jan. 23. The opposing teams were Maple Lake and Howard Lake Waverly. Paynesville dominated with a team score of 121.05. Maple Lake came in second with 119.7, and Howard Lake Waverly was third with 92.025. The Bulldogs set a season-high team score in the meet by scoring 121 points.
Tessa Miller, at right, strikes a pose on the balance bean. She placed fifth against Morris.
The Bulldogs dominated the vault, taking four of the five places. Michelle Wolbeck earned fifth place with an 8.4, Joy Hemmesch came in fourth place with an 8.45, and Amy Mueller was third with an 8.45. Kelli Fenske vaulted into first with an 8.6.
On the uneven bars, Hemmesch was the only Bulldog able to place. She received a 7.65 for third place. The team's total score on the bars was 28.1.
"After we stuck our vaults and nailed our bar routines, I knew we had a chance to win. I was very nervous for the girls when we rotated to beam," said coach Deb Nehowig.
Wolbeck was the only Paynesville gymnast to place on beam. She earned second place with a 7.65. The team's total beam score was just 27.75.
The Bulldogs rebounded in their last event, the floor exercise. Mueller placed fifth, scoring a 7.85. Koehn scored a 7.9 for fourth place, and Hemmesch received third place with a 7.95.
In the all-around competition Wolbeck scored a 30.05 to put her in fifth place. Hemmesch placed second with a 31.2.
Paynesville - 121.05
Maple Lake - 119.7
Howard Lake-Waverly - 92.025
Paynesville 120.6
Morris 109.5
The Bulldog gymnasts gave their parents something to celebrate on Thursday. Paynesville dominated Morris by a score of 120.6-109.5 and won on Parent's Night.
The Dogs dominated the vault, uneven bars, and balance beam events, placing four gymnasts in the top five on each. In the floor exercise, the Bulldogs settled for placing three in the top five.
On the vault, Michelle Wolbeck placed fifth with an 8.3, Amy Mueller placed fourth with an 8.45, Kelli Fenske placed third with an 8.55, and Joy Hemmesch placed second with an 8.65.
On the uneven bars, Wolbeck placed fifth with a 6.45, Rachel Koehn placed fourth with a 6.75, Mandy Mayer came in third with a 6.85, and Hemmesch scored a 6.95 for second place.
On the balance beam, Tessa Miller placed fifth with a 6.35, Koehn scored a 7.05 for third place, Wolbeck scored a 7.3 for second place, and Hemmesch came in first with a 7.55.
On the floor exercise, Mueller tied for fourth place with a 7.85, Hemmesch placed third with an 8.0, and Koehn placed first with an 8.15.
In the all-around competition Wolbeck placed fourth with a 29.45. Koehn scored 30 for second, and Hemmesch received first place with a 31.15.
"I'm proud of the girls this week. We broke 120 for the first time this season, and we accomplished it twice in one week," said Nehowig.
"I'm looking forward to conference to redeem two losses we had earlier this season," said assistant coach Mike Nistler.
Morris - 109.5
Paynesville - 120.6