B-H GYMNASTS OFF TO STATE

    The Britton-Hecla gymnastics team earned a spot in the state gymnastics meet set for Friday and Saturday in Mitchell by placing fourth in a tightly-contested Region 1A meet held in Britton on Thursday.
    Team Class A competition is Friday at 10 a.m., while the individual Class A competition is Saturday at 10 a.m.
    The top eight Class A teams advanced to the state meet with the Lady Braves standing in the fifth spot.  All six 1A teams qualified including defending state champ Estelline-Hendricks, Madison, Deuel, Sisseton, and Milbank.  Parkston-Ethan-Hanson-Mt. Vernon and Vermillion were the other two qualifiers from Region 2A.
    Eight local gymnasts qualified for Saturday’s individual state competition.  Kennady Van Lith qualified in all four events and will also be in the all-around competition.  Jaelee Grupe is a three-event qualifier in bars, beam, and floor. Abby Lee is also in three events - vault, bars, and floor.  Taryn Kraft will compete in bars and beam, Brynlee Schmieg in vault and bars; Ava Teveldal on beam and floor,  Ailyn Lee on vault, and Marley Sundin on beam.
    Placing among the top  eight in the regional meet were Ava Teveldal, second on beam; Abby Lee, sixth in vault; and Kennady Van Lith,. eighth in vault.
    “As predicted, the region meet was close,” said B-H coach Angela Grupe.  “We finished in the middle of the pack, edging out Sisseton by .1.  We were also closer to Deuel and Madison.  The state meet will come down to whoever hits that day.  It will be tough competition across the board and we are going to throw everything we have at fighting for a high team placing.
    “The region went fairly well for a team recovering from illness,” added Grupe.  “We know we left points out there which is encouraging for this week at state.  Our focus will be to execute at our highest level.  We must compete to win and not be afraid to make mistakes to be our best.  I’m excited to take this group and get after it.  Our team goal is always to bring home a team plaque (top six teams) and we’d like to see how high we can push it.”
    The regional meet also determined the Northeast Conference standings.  Deuel was the team champion, followed by Britton-Hecla, Sisseton, and Milbank.  The top three teams were separated by a total of one and a half points.
    In the NEC meet Teveldal was the balance beam champion; Van Lith was third all-around, fourth in vault, sixth on bars, and seventh on floor; Lee placed third in vault and fifth on bars; Taryn Kraft was sixth on beam; and Jaelee Grupe placed eighth on bars and beam.