Senior Sterling Mertens led Britton-Hecla to a fourth place team finish at the state meet and placed in three individual events, and competed in floor exercise in this photo. (SDPB Photo)
Gymnasts Fourth At State
Britton-Hecla’s gymnastics team saved its best for last.
The Lady Braves scored a season-high 134.794 points that included six personal bests and finished fourth in the Class A state meet held in Pierre on Friday. Then on Saturday Sterling Mertens brought home three places in the individual competition, taking fifth in vault and floor exercise and seventh on the uneven bars.
“Team day was a great team effort from all,” said B-H coach Angela Grupe. “The points were tight as expected, but my girls did their job and came out with a great final team competition. In a world full of club athletes, the state meet is packed with awesome athletes and high level competition, but this team has put in the time and had the desire to rise as high as possible. They did great, and I’m so proud of them for peaking at the right time and competing fearlessly.”
Grupe made special note of her team’s three seniors – Mertens, Kaegan Fredrickson, and Emma Kraft.
“Our seniors all had phenomenal final routines, each walking away leaving everything on the mat. It was a pleasure to watch them get after it and walk away at the top of their game. These seniors are a special group and it will be hard to let them go.
“But behind those seniors are some underclassmen that really stepped up their game and provided the edge we needed to get into fourth place,” Grupe added. “Ava Teveldal returned from a back injury and Abby Lee was able to compete in only one event after her hamstring injury just last week, and both of those routines gave us the boost we needed. I’m proud of them for how hard they worked to overcome their injuries and still be assets to the team.
“Every single girl competed hard and it showed. They were fierce, confident, and brave, and it was a fun day,” concluded Grupe. “Then on individual day Sterling placed in the top 10 in all three of her events, and we had five no-fall beam routines which was icing on the cake in our final performances of the year.”
TEAM POINTS: Estelline-Hendricks 142.596, Madison 138.911, Hot Springs 136.461, Britton-Hecla 134.794, Parkston-Ethan-Hanson 134.730, Deuel 132.212, Chamberlain 130.427, Vermillion 127.127
VAULT: Sterling Mertens 9.150, Kaegan Fredrickson 8.883, Kennady Van Lith 8.616, McKenna Heer 8.600, Brynlee Schmieg 8.016
UNEVEN BARS: Mertens 8.400, Abby Lee 7.833, Emma Kraft 7.516, Van Lith 7.400, Fredrickson 7.150
BALANCE BEAM: Mertens 9.083, Fredrickson 8.683, Jaelee Grupe 8.616, Ava Teveldal 8.483, Kraft 7.583
FLOOR EXERCISE: Mertens 8.766, Van Lith 8.333, Fredrickson 8.216, Grupe 8.216, Heer 7.733
ALL-AROUND: Mertens 35.399, Fredrickson 32.932
INDIV IDUAL DAY VAULT: 5. Mertens 9.066; Fredrickson 8.733, Heer 8.250
UNEVEN BARS: 7. Mertens 8.433; Kraft 7.650, Van Lith 7.300, Fredrickson 7.283
BALANCE BEAM : Fredrickson 8.483, Teveldal 8.183, Kraft 8.066, Van Lith 8.000, Grupe 7.700
FLOOR EXERCISE: 5. Mertens 9.400; Van Lith 8.866, Fredrickson 8.766, Grupe 8.250
ALL-AROUND : Fredrickson 33.265