Gymnasts End Regular Season
The Eastern Montana Gymnastics team finished their regular season at the NoDak Northern Lights Gymnastics Meet in Watford City, N.D., on March 8. Both the silver and gold teams placed fourth in the team competition, out of seven and five teams, respectively. Each of the EMG gold gymnasts won event first places in their age groups, with Lina Smith of Richey winning uneven bars and balance beam; Jillian Deserly of Wolf Point winning vault; and Shelica Deserly of Wolf Point with a tie win on floor. Silver gymnast Ava Hove of Circle added a first place on bars. Gyms attending the meet came from Fargo (two teams), Mandan, Minot, Grand Forks, Williston, Bismarck, Dickinson, Ray, Jamestown, Valley City and Watford City, N.D.; Glendive, Miles City, Sidney, Billings and Circle; and Sturgis, S.D.
The three EMG gold gymnasts competed in the mid-morning session at the Rough Rider Center. Besides winning the bars and beam, Smith was second for her all-around score, out of the eight gymnasts in the gold B age group. Besides her firstplace on vault, Jill Deserly was third on balance beam, fourth on floor and third for her all-around score, out of seven gymnasts in the gold D age group. Shelica Deserly captured second place for her all-around in the same age group and was third on vault, second on bars and fifth on beam besides her first-place tie on floor.
Seven EMG gymnasts competed in the afternoon session and, although missing two gymnasts, made a great showing for the small Circle gym. Besides her first place on bars, Hove was fourth on balance beam and tied for third for all-around, out of the nine silver A gymnasts.
Kate Nasner of Wolf Point was the only EMG gymnast who placed in the top half of every event. Competing in the silver B age group of eight gymnasts, she had third places for her all-around, vault, bars and beam and a fourth place on floor. Ashlynn Johannessen of Wolf Point competed in the same age group and earned second place on floor, third place on beam and fourth place on vault and allaround. Nomi Deserly of Wolf Point added a fourth place finish on the beam.
DaRae Deserly of Wolf Point competed in the silver C age group of seven gymnasts and was fourth on floor and fifth for her bars. Abbey Gibbs of Circle had third places on bars and beam and fourth places for floor and all-around, out of the eight gymnasts in silver E. Ali Gibbs was fifth on beam and floor, out of eight gymnasts in silver D.
Gold scores (vault, bars, beam, floor, all-around): Smith (8.275, 8.9, 9.0, 8.9, 35.075), S. Deserly (8.7, 8.65, 8.0, 9.2, 34.55), J. Deserly (9.05, 7.9, 8.225, 9.025, 34.2).
Silver scores: Hove (8.85, 9.35, 9.025, 8.9, 36.125), Nasner (9.05, 9.025, 8.75, 9.1, 35.925), Johannessen (8.9, 8.5, 8.75, 9.4, 35.55), Abbey Gibbs (8.85, 8.6, 8.7, 9.05, 35.2), DaRae Deserly (8.5, 8.15, 8.475, 9.1, 34.225), Ali Gibbs (8.7, 8.2, 8.425, 8.9, 34.225), N. Deserly (8.6, 7.4, 8.675, 8.7, 33.375) Since there is no qualifying state meet scores for Xcel gymnasts, all the EMG gymnasts will compete at the Montana State Gymnastics Championships in Hamilton in several weeks.
