Park gymnastics: Wolfpack wins Section 3AA championship, earns trip to state

The Park gymnastics team is headed to state after winning the Section 3AA Championship on Friday, Feb. 18, at Park High School.

Backed by first and second place finishes in the all-around competition by sophomores Kasondra Tulloch and Rachel Deephouse, respectively, and a remarkable performance in the floor exercise, Park — which is ranked No. 2 in the state — scored a 147.825 to edge fifth-ranked Eagan, which had a 146.625 score.

Park trailed Eagan by nearly two points — 110.925 to 109.225 — heading into the final rotation. However, Park uncorked a 38.6 in the floor exercise and Eagan scored a 35.7 on the beam, giving the Wolfpack a 1.2-point advantage and the Section 3AA crown.

Park head coach Mark Sikich said the 38.6 floor exercise score is the second-best score in the event in school history.

In the floor exercise, Kelly McKenzie scored a 9.550, McKay Zurn scored a 9.575, Deephouse scored a 9.725 and Tulloch earned a 9.750 score.

Along with its first-place finish in the floor exercise, Park took first place in the vault with a 37.5, second place in the bars with a 36.375 and second on the beam with a 35.35.

Individually, Tulloch won the all-around competition with a season-high 38.325, followed by Deephouse with a season-high 38.10, qualifying for the state meet as individuals in the event. Out of sections, the winning team and the top four individual finishers in each event qualify for the state meet.

Tulloch took first place in the bars (9.675) and in the floor (9.750), second place in the vault (9.6) and third place on the beam (9.3).

Deephouse finished second in the floor (9.725) and on the beam (9.525), tied for third place in the bars (9.450) and tied for fifth in the vault (9.4.)

Fellow District 833 schools East Ridge and Woodbury took fourth place and eighth place, with 141.150 and 135.425 scores, respectively.

East Ridge junior Leah Robinette qualified for the state meet, individually, in every event but the floor exercise. Robinette scored a 37.7 in the all-around to take fourth place, and took first place in the vault (9.675), tied for third place in the bars (9.450) and was fourth place on the beam (9.250).

The state meet will be held Friday and Saturday, Feb. 25 and 26, at the University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion. The team meet will be on Friday and the individuals will compete on Saturday.

See the full story and additional photos in the Feb. 23 issue of the Bulletin

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