Gymnastics teams are peaking

The fruits of a season of hard work came were realized for the Port Washington and Grafton/Cedarburg high school gymnastics teams last week.

Both teams achieved season-high scores at the North Shore Conference meet Saturday at Nicolet.

The Bullhawks scored 126.45 points and finished seventh of eight teams. Port scored 116.425 and was eighth. Whitefish Bay won with 140.025 points, followed by Homestead’s 139.375, Hartford’s 138.825, Nicolet’s 137.9, West Bend

West’s 134.675 and West Bend East’s 133.325.

“The depth of the scores on each event played a key factor in exceeding their meet goal of 125,” coach Gale Sigler said of the Bullhawks.

Vault was a big contributor, with all four scoring higher than 8.0.

Kaelyn Chmiel had 8.5, followed by Lacey Greicar’s 8.425, Teagan White’s 8.175 and Alaina Jarmuz’s 8.15.

Jarmuz and Olivia Rossi led improved routines on bars, each with 7.65. White had 7.6 and Katie Herkert had 7.275.

Sierra Jarvis had a season-high on beam with 8.375. White had 7.85, Herkert had 7.775 and Rossi had 7.675.

On floor, “the girls performed some of their best routines this season” led by Jarmuz’s 8.15, Sigler said. Chmiel had 7.85, White scored 7.725, and Jarvis had 7.625.

“These girls have really stepped up their difficulty over the past few weeks and are in line to surpass their season high at sectionals,” Sigler said.

For Port, vault and floor were strengths.

On vault, Audrey Dickson scored 8.35, Emma Bollech had 7.9, Sitharah Achakzai had 7.35 and Claire Ritter had 7.3.

On floor, it was Dickson with 8.6, Bollech with 7.575 and Alyana Alexander with 7.275, followed by Ritter.

Improved bar routines led to a season-high score. Dickson had 7.95, followed by Bollech’s 7.15, then Alexander and Achakzai.

The Pirates were plagued by falls on bars but Sigler liked the effort. Dickson had 7.9, Bollech had 7.55 and Willow Rogers had 7.2, followed by Alexander.

“I’m excited to see this group hit a no fall meet. That way they can achieve their high event team total when it matters most.  We’ve rearranged our lineup a few times this year, and I feel confident we are heading into our sectional meet with the best possible chance to score a season high,” Sigler said.

On Feb. 15, Port scored 112.525 points to close its dual-meet season by beating Shorewood. Dickson had 8.05 on vault and 8.4 on floor.

Port competes in the Division 2 Whitefish Bay sectional on Saturday, while Grafton/Cedarburg competes at the Division 1 Arrowhead sectional.