Port’s gymnastics season comes with higher expectations

This isn’t like years past for the Port Washington High School gymnastics team, coach Gale Sigler says.

“We have such a strong group of returning gymnasts this year that have been complimented by a couple talented freshmen that I expect us to be able to push our team score limits higher than we have been able to in the past few years,” she said.

In the team’s first meet against Hartford, Pot scored 116.45 points, nearly last year’s high.

On vault, Maddie Mellesmoen had 8.2, Milena Valasek 7.75, Addie Wellenstein 7.55 and Claire Ritter 7.35.

On bars, Addie Wellenstein scored 7.575 and Valasek had 7.075.

On beam, Wellenstein had 7.65 and Grace Baumann had 7.375.

On floor exercise, Valasak had 7.875 and Avary Drotzur had 7.225.

At a Jefferson Invite, Port finished third with 117.825 points. Mellesmoen was fourth on vault with 8.25, fifth on bars with 76, eighth on beam with 7.3 and fifth in the all-around. Wellenstein won the vault with 8.45 and was fourth on bars with 7.65.

Against West Bend West before Christmas, Port scored a new high of 124.65 points.

“Minimal mistakes and strong efforts by all made a big impact on our team reaching this score,” Sigler said.

Mellesmoen had 8.425 on vault, 8.125 on beam and 8.175 on floor to lead the team.

Sabrina Eixenberger had 8.15 on beam. Other scores included Lilly Hassler’s 7.45 and Valasek’s 7.3.

Valasek had 8.1 on vault, Ritter had 7.95 and Eixenberger 7.9.

Baumann and Mellesmoen each had 8.0 on beam and Valasek had 7.475.

Drotzur had 7.875 on floor. Valasek had 7.825 and Ritter had 7.625.

Port finished third in last Saturday’s Highlander Invite at Homestead.

On floor, Mellesmoen had 7.875, Baumann had 7.8, Ritter had 7.75 and Wellenstein had 7.525.

On vault, Ritter had 8.45, Mellesmoen had 8.35, Wellenstein had 8.125 and Valasek had 8.05.

“Our captains, Clare Ritter and Willow Rogers, stepped into the bar lineup to fill our roster for the day with Maddie Mellesmoen taking top spot for us and first in the division too,” Sigler said.

On beam, Mellesmoen finished fifth with 8.425. Baumann had 7.05.

“We did have to count falls in our beam total, which is always a key factor in getting best scores, but we are making improvements and will continue to add new skills to increase our overall scoring potential,” Sigler said.  “It is very exciting to see the team earn some hardware and be in a competitive position with their opponents.”

Port was to host Nicolet on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Port competes at Whitefish Bay on Tuesday, Jan. 14.