Huron gymnasts compete in Watertown

Plainsman Staff
Posted 1/26/24

Huron gymnasts compete in Watertown triangular Thursday

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Huron gymnasts compete in Watertown

Posted

WATERTOWN — The Watertown Arrows gymnastics team swept the top two places in all four disciplines and ended with the top five in All-Around to win their own invitational meet Thursday night, with a total of 143.55 points. Aberdeen finished second with 135.25 and Huron was third with 128.

Kinsley Van Gilder finished atop the All-Around podium with a 35.75, edging teammates Macy Olsen (35.6) and Briana McElhaney (34.95) in the final totals. Huron ’s top finisher in All-Around was Eastyn Eichstadt, whose 33.3 earned her seventh place.

Van Gilder’s lone apparatus win came in the Vault, where she scored a 9.25, .05 ahead of Olsen. Alivia Cunard finished fourth for Huron with a 9.05 and Cameron Ruth dented the top 10, with an 8.7, good for ninth place.

McElhaney scored wins in Balance Beam, with a 9.25, and in Floor Exercise, with a 9.5. Van Gilder was second on Balance Beam and Marli Wadsworth of Watertown was second on Floor.

Wadsworth ended with the high score on Uneven Parallel Bars, earning an 8.7 to again edge Olsen.

Ruth netted an 8.3 to finish third on Bars and Eichstadt finished eighth with a 7.8, while in Beam, Huron was led by Eichstadt’s 8.2, placing her in a tie for 9th.

In Floor, Ellie Puterbaugh received a 9.1, as she finished eighth in the event.

“The Tigers are heading in the right direction,” said coach Julie King at the conclusion of the meet. “The girls had a good showing, and it was good to see Alivia Cunard with a personal best on vault and a qualifying score on vault of a 9.05.”

King also pointed out the strong overall performances from Ruth and Eichstadt at the meet.

“Cameron continues to be a strong athlete and had a great placing on bars with an 8.3,” King said. “Eastyn had a great all around night, with no falls on beam, and great routines on bar, vault and floor. The girls’ appear to peaking at the right time!”

Huron is back in Watertown on Saturday, for the ESD meet, as they prepare for the State Gymnastics Meet, Feb. 9-10 in Pierre.