Gymnasts earn ‘biggest’ win of season

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The Rosemount gymnastics team can look at the state’s rankings and be proud they are among the top 10 teams.

Even after a disappointing meet, the average of their top three scores keeps the Irish among the top 10.

With the rankings based on average scores, the biggest question among those elite teams is how each was judged.

The only way a team and coach knows how they match up with the other top teams is by facing them in competition, with the same judges.

Which might lead to even more optimism after No. 10 Rosemount used a season-high point total to beat No. 4 Lakeville South 144.45-142.575 on Tuesday.

“That’s the thing about gymnastics, you’re not sure until you get two teams together and it’s all what the judges see,” Irish coach Jason Passeri said. “We beat them by two points. That’s our biggest win of the year by far. It was fun to beat them. Year-in and year-out they are one of the top teams in the state.”

It was a nice recovery after Rosemount had maybe its most disappointing meet of the season last week in a 145.05-139.625 loss to Eden Prairie.

But after winning Tuesday, the accolades were coming in.

“Even the judges commented that we looked good,” Passeri said. “That feels good.”

The score will likely vault the Irish back into the middle of the rankings as well.

Katrina Clayton again led the way for Rosemount against South, winning the all-around competition with a score of 37.275. Katie Murgic was third with a 36.775.

Clayton was second on the vault with a 9.4, followed by Tara Gottschling, who scored a personal-best 9.2.

Murgic won the uneven bars with a 9.4 and Clayton was second with a 9.375 as the Irish scored a season-high 35.175.

On the balance beam, Clayton was second with a 9.175, and Murgic finished third with a 9.0, despite a fall.

“It tells you how good she is on the beam,” Passeri said. “Not many can people can put up a nine with a fall.”

Claire Judeh added a personal-best 8.9 to place fourth.

After three events, Rosemount was up by just eight-tenths. But floor exercise is where the Irish shine.

Murgic won the floor with a 9.52. Gottschling was second with a 9.5. Clayton was fourth with a 9.325 and Macy Stearns was fifth with a 9.275 as Rosemount scored a 37.625.

“We were a huge underdog,” Passeri said. “We went to floor and absolutely nailed it, our best all year.

“With what judges are saying, and what I’ve seen from other teams, we might be the best team in the state on floor.”

Against Eden Prairie, two events doomed the Irish.

“We had a terrible meet,” Passeri said. “Balance beam killed us. Bars killed us. We had a season low on bars and beam.”

Clayton had the team’s top finish with a second-place showing on the vault. Murgic was fourth in the all-around with a 36.1.

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