Despite miscues, gymnasts prevail

When a team can perform at an average level and still field a score other squads envy, something good is happening.

The Brainerd Warriors gymnastics team suffered through several falls on the balance beam, missed landings on vault and other miscues, but still managed to score 143.325 points Thursday defeat the Grand Rapids Thunderhawks, who scored 119.85.

It came a week after the Warriors fell just short of the school record for team points.

"We had some mistakes, but now we know what we're going to work on this week so at sections we have everything worked out," said sophomore Katie Perpich, who won the uneven parallel bars with a score of 9.425.

Brainerd head coach Dave Maras said the Warriors may have been looking past their final dual meet of the regular season and focusing on the upcoming Section 8, Class 2A meet.

"I think we were looking a little beyond tonight," Maras said. "We're getting ready for sections."

Freshman Kathleen Lorenz won the all-around for Brainerd with a score of 36.925. She was first on vault with a 9.25 and on floor with a 9.525. Her score on vault came after holding a difficult landing.

"Kathleen hit hers," Maras said. "She landed and was just determined not to fall. She showed a lot of courage."

The Warriors dipped into the seventh grade to fill out their vault lineup and Heather Mix answered the call. She scored a 9.0 in her first varsity competition, good enough for second place.

"She stepped in and had a very good second vault," Perpich said. "She stepped up and did her job."

"I think that was one of the highlights of the meet," Maras said.

Seventh-grader Maggie Freiday secured Brainerd's final first place on beam with a score of 9.05.

Brainerd captured the top five places on bars and beam and all but one of the top five places on floor and vault.

"It's a nice score, considering," Maras said. "A 143, we'll take that anytime. But we didn't have a beam tonight."

The Warriors have more than a week to hone their skills for the section meet, which they will host Feb. 16.

"We are going to work everything very hard," Perpich said. "Do everything in practice like we would in a meet, pretend every little thing is in front of a judge."

Brainerd 143.325, Grand Rapids 119.85

Vault -- 1-Kathleen Lorenz (B) 9.25, 2-Heather Mix (B) 9.0, 3-Katie Perpich (B) 8.95, 5-Annie Bahr (B) 8.5, 6-Amanda Johnson (B) 8.45.

Uneven parallel bars -- 1-Perpich 9.425, 2-Lorenz 9.3, 3-Kara Rutman (B) 8.95, 4-Briana Lester (B) 8.8, 5-Stephanie Peterson (B) 8.1.

Balance beam -- 1-Maggie Freiday (B) 9.05, 2-Lorenz 8.85, 3-Perpich 8.75, 4-Danielle Arnold (B) 8.45, 5-Tessa Helland (B) 8.25.

Floor -- 1-Lorenz 9.525, 2-Perpich 9.25, 3-Helland 8.85, 5-Bahr 8.425.

All-around -- 1-Lorenz 36.925, 2-Perpich 36.375, 3-Ariana Carusiello (GR) 30.7.

Overall -- B 8-0. Next meet -- Brainerd hosts Section 8, Class 2A meet 11 a.m. Feb. 16.