Park gymnastics: Wolfpack cruise to win in opener

Even with two of its top gymnasts on the sidelines, Park put on a show in its first meet of the 2012-13 season.

Despite being without senior Rachel Deephouse and junior Sarah LaBrosse, the Wolfpack scored 134.875 in a season-opening win over Hastings last week. The rebuilding Raiders scored 120.2 in the meet.

Park head coach Mark Sikich said the two gymnasts aren’t dealing with any serious injuries and are expected back soon.

“I’ve got some kids sick and some a little banged up, so we’re not at full strength,” Sikich said. “We’re happy with the results to start out with. We just want to start slow this year and keep kids healthy. We don’t want to go through what we did last year.”

In the meet, Park gymnasts placed first through fourth in the vault and on the beam, first through fifth in the floor exercise and first, second and third on the bars.

Park’s Kasondra Tulloch led the way for the Wolfpack. The senior won the all-around competition with a 35.525. She took first place in the vault (9.165), first place on the bars (8.775), first place in the floor exercise (8.875) and second on the beam (8.75). Park sophomore Sarah Schank also had a solid all-around performance, scoring 32.175. She had the Wolfpack’s other first-place finish, taking the top spot on the beam with an 8.85. Schank was also third in the vault (8.65) and fourth in the floor exercise (8.15).

Other top scores for Park were turned in by: Senior McKay Zurn, who was second in the floor exercise (8.85) and third on the bars (7.7) and on the beam (8.75); junior Allie Minogue, who was second on the bars (7.85) and fourth in the vault (8.35); junior Michaela Theilfoldt, who was second in the vault (8.95) and fifth in the floor exercise (8.1); sophomore Carlee Washenberger, who was fourth on the beam (8.15) and eighth grader Emma Harvang, who was sixth on the bars (7.0).

The Park JV team also won its meet, scoring 122.05, with junior Sarah Grace Quinn leading the way with a 30.4 all-around score.

Sikich said all the injuries the team went through last year allowed his younger gymnasts to gain experience, which was a silver lining.

“That’s the beauty of sports,” Sikich said. “Sometimes one person’s miscue is another person’s opportunity. It’s a glass half-full attitude.”

Next. Park holds its home opener against Stillwater on Thursday, Dec. 6. The meet begins at 6:30 p.m.

“We’re expecting a good crowd,” Sikich said.

Tags: sports, gymnastics, park, wolfpack, prep, updates