East Ridge gymnastics: Raptors win Rush City tourney, beat Bears in SEC meet

The East Ridge gymnastics team improved to 3-0 in the Suburban East Conference with a 137.725 to 129.2 win over White Bear Lake on Thursday, Dec. 15, before taking first place at the Rush City Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 17, with a score of 139.65.

“Overall it was a good week,” Simmons said. “To see that we’re in that 137 to 139 range at this point of the season is really good.”

In the win over the Bears (1-2 SEC)East Ridge had at least two gymnasts finish in the top three places in every event.

White Bear Lake senior sensation Kellie Dougherty took first place in every event, totaling a 37.9 all-around score.

East Ridge senior standout Leah Robinette wasn’t far behind, though, with an all-around score of 36.73 to take second. Raptors sophomore Kellie McKenzie took third in the all-around with a score of 33.85.

Robinette finished in second place in the vault (9.25), on the bars (9.5) on the beam (9.05) and third in the floor exercise (8.9).

McKenzie earned third place in the vault (9.175) and third place on the beam (8.575). East Ridge eighth grader Megan Trollen earned third place on the bars (8.3) and second place in the floor exercise (9.275) and sophomore Keliana Thompson took fourth place in the vault (8.95) as well.

“It wasn’t our best meet,” Simmons said. “A lot of our girls are exhausted. I feel there’s a lot more room for improvement.”

East Ridge followed up the conference win by taking first place at the Rush City invite, beating out second place Chisago Lakes (129.85).

East Ridge went 1-2-3 in the all-around and was in the top three places on the beam, in the floor exercise and on the bars and finished in first and second in the vault.

Trollen took first in the all-around at Rush City with a 36.55, followed by Robinette (35.35) and McKenzie (34.75).

“That went fantastic,” Simmons said. “It was a different meet, because we don’t compete against Class A teams that often. It was good to see gymnasts we don’t see all that much. I think the girls did really well.”

Next, the Raptors host one of their biggest meets of the year when they welcome defending conference and Section 3AA champion Park to East Ridge High School.

East Ridge is averaging a score of 138.706 through four meets. Park is at a 140.812 in its first four meets.

“I know our girls are really pumped for that meet,” Simmons said. “They look forward to that one every season, because that’s our biggest rivalry, but there’s no hatred or anything between the girls, they’re friends actually, because they work out together in the offseason. It’ll be nice to see them go against girls who are more their caliber. It’s going to be a really fun, really close meet I think.”

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