East Ridge gymnastics: Raptors score 137.625, win opener

With its first meet of the year, the East Ridge gymnastics team proved it will be a team to watch in the Suburban East Conference and in Section 3AA this season.

In its season opener, held Thursday, Dec. 1, at East Ridge, the Raptors topped SEC foe Hastings 137.625 to 123.025.

East Ridge’s score was just back of the team’s season-high of 141.150 at last year’s section meet and was about seven points better than the 130.675 points the Raptors scored in last season’s opening win over Hastings.

East Ridge gymnasts took first, second and third in every event in the meet.

“I think they did fantastic for the first match of the year,” East Ridge’s new head coach Brittany Simmons said. “We have a new girls on the team this year and they competed very well. It was really nice to see some complete routines. The girls were excited, but believe there’s a lot of room for improvement.”

With its 137.625, East Ridge wasn’t far back of Park, which won the SEC and Section 3AA championship last year. The Wolfpack scored 141.225 in its first meet of the year. The Raptors were even closer to Roseville, which took second in the SEC and then second in the Class AA state meet last season. The Raiders scored a 137.85 in their first meet last week.

“I think the girls are just becoming stronger. A lot of our varsity team works year-round,” Simmons said. “In the offseason they’ve kept their skills up and are becoming more consistent with the things they were working on at the end of last year. We’re just getting a little preview of that now.”

Senior Leah Robinette led the way for the Raptors against Hastings. Her all-around score of 36.5 was good for first place. Additionally, Robinette took first place in the floor exercise with a score of 8.6, first place on the beam with an 8.95, first place on the bars with a 9.375 and second place in the vault with an 8.9.

East Ridge sophomore Kelly McKenzie earned first place in the vault with an 8.95 and was third place on the bars (8.25) and in the all-around (33.525). Eighth grader Megan Trollen finished in second place in the all-around with a score of 34.375. She took second place on the bars with an 8.925, second place on the beam (8.9) and third in the floor exercise (8.55).

Additionally, sophomore Keliana Thompson earned third place in the vault (8.7) and junior Jamila Joyner finished in second place in the floor exercise (8.6).

After the head-to-head conference meet, East Ridge traveled to Becker for an invitational tournament, where it finished in third place with a score of 135.45. Melrose won the meet with a 140.2 score. Becker took second with a 137.45. As a team, the Raptors finished third on the vault, third on bars, second on the beam and took first in the floor exercise.

Next, East Ridge hosts SEC foe Stillwater on Thursday, Dec. 8, before heading to Prior Lake for an invitational on Saturday, Dec. 10.

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