The State “A” and “AA” Gymnastics Meet will be held this year at the Watertown Civic Arena. The TEAM competition and INDIVIDUAL & ALL-AROUND competition are divided into two separate days.
Team competition for both classes will be during a single session on Friday . While each class will be competing only against other schools in their own class, the two classes will be competing at the same time alternating gymnasts on each apparatus. The opening ceremony for the combined team session will begin at 10:45 a.m. on Friday, February 13th.
Saturday, February 14th, competition continues at the Watertown Civic Arena with the INDIVIDUAL & ALL-AROUND COMPETITION. Opening ceremonies for Class “AA” competition begin at 9:15 a.m. Opening ceremonies for Class “A” competition will begin at 4:15 p.m. The top 20 individuals in the four events, plus all-around, will be crowned following each session on Saturday.
All sessions will be using the Capital Cup format with teams warming up in the practice gym, then immediately competing on that event in the main gym.
Class “A”
Nine teams will compete for the Team Championship. These teams represent the top three teams from each of the two region meets, along with the next three highest team scores from the region meets. Teams competing are Britton-Hecla, Chamberlain, Deuel, Madison, Milbank, Parkston/Ethan/Hanson, Stanley County, Vermillion, and Wagner/Bon Homme.
The Madison team will be defending their 2014 championship.
Madison had the top qualifying meet team score with 138.350. The top individual event qualifying scores are as follows: Jenni Giles of Madison on Vault with a score of 9.150, and on Floor Exercise with a score of 9.550; Abby Christiansen of Madison on Uneven Bars with a score of 8.680; and a tie on Balance Beam with a score of 8.975 for both Jenni Giles of Madison and Jada Plastow of Parkston/Ethan/Hanson. Jenni Giles of Madison also had the high score in the All-Around competition with a 36.200.
A new champion will be crowned in Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, and All-Around competition. Jenni Giles of Madison returns to defend her championship in the Floor Exercise.
In addition to the 9 teams qualifying for team and individual competition, Hot Springs, Sisseton, Wall/Kadoka Area/Philip, and West Central also qualified individuals for the State Meet.
83 gymnasts will be competing in Class “A” over the two-day state meet.
Class “AA”
Nine teams will compete for the Team Championship. These teams represent the top three teams from each of the two qualifying meets, along with the next three highest team scores from the qualifying meets. Teams competing are Aberdeen Central, Brookings, Mitchell, Rapid City Central, Rapid City Stevens, Sioux Falls O’Gorman, Sioux Falls Roosevelt, Watertown, and Yankton.
Mitchell is returning to defend their team title this year. Mitchell had the top qualifying meet team score with 147.575. The top individual event qualifying scores are as follows: Chelsey Christensen of Rapid City Central on Vault with a score of 9.675 and on Uneven Bars with a score of 9.700; Shay Trimble on Floor Exercise with a score of 9.700; and Quinci Herll of Mitchell on Balance Beam with a score of 9.675. Chelsey Christensen of Rapid City Central had the high score in the All-Around competition with a score of 38.225.
The only returning champion is Chelsey Christensen of Rapid City Central defending her championship in the uneven bars. A new champion will be crowned in all other Class AA events.
In addition to the 9 teams qualifying for team competition, Huron, Pierre T.F. Riggs, and Sioux Falls Lincoln also qualified individuals for the State Meet.
86 gymnasts will be competing in Class “AA” over the two-day state meet.
For coverage of this years gymnastics event, visit sdpb.org/gymnastics
