MINNEAPOLIS — Austin junior Maddie Mullenbach came through with a consistently spectacular performance as she got on the podium five times and grabbed two state titles at the Class A state individual gymnastics meet in the University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis Saturday.

 

Mullenbach won the all-around by a commanding margin as she posted a 38.125. Cora Okeson of Detroit Lakes took second with a 37.875.

Mullenbach, who also won her first ever state beam title, had been chasing the all-around title for the past four years as she’s been in the top five in all-around at state ever since she was an eighth grader. When she finally reached that goal, Mullenbach was almost speechless.

“It just doesn’t feel real. I can’t feel any emotions,” Mullenbach said.

Mullenbach started the meet on her toughest event as she had to take on the balance beam. Not only did she survive that challenge, she thrived in it as she put up a score of 9.575 to get the gold medal. That performance gave Mullenbach momentum as she put up at least a 9.4 in her last three events to run away with the state title. Mullenbach third in the floor, and she took fourth in the vault and bars.

“I came into today super scared. Beam is never easy, but to get it over with and do it well felt good. I was not expecting to win it at all, whatsoever,” Mullenbach said.

Mullenbach came into the meet with high hopes, but she wasn’t about to stress over where she wanted to finish.

“Looking back at year’s past I don’t even remember how well I do,” Mullenbach said. “I just don’t pay attention to the past and I try to go with what I got. I wouldn’t be able to do anything I’ve done done today without my teammates. I love them so much.”

Mullenbach was a little nervous headed into the state meet, so she received a little guidance from Austin’s last all-around state champ Sela Fadness. Mullenbach recently visited Fadness at Hamline University, where the Fadness, a two-time all-around champ competes on the gymnastics team, and Mullenbach picked up some much needed vault advice.

“She’s always been a role model and my best friend,” Mullenbach said of Fadness. “We’ve had our rough patches, but I love her. She helped me out on my vault a lot and I give her a lot of credit for that.”

Austin sophomore Jennifer Boyle was competing side by side with Mullenbach on Saturday. The two have put in a lot of time together over the years.

“I was so happy for Maddie,” Boyle said. “She’s worked so hard and she really deserves it. We push each other the most and we are each other’s motivation.”

Boyle, who won the Class A state bars title last year, took sixth in the bars this year and she was 13th in the all-around competition.

“You put more stress on yourself because you go into each event hoping to do good for your all-around score,” Mullenbach said. “I went in hoping to do the best I could [on bars]. I just wanted to get on the podium and it felt good to get up there.”

AUSTIN RESULTS

Vault: Maddie Mullenbach (fourth, 9.6); Jennifer Boyle (9.225)

Bars: Mullenbach (fourth, 9.4); Boyle (sixth, 9.35)

Beam: Mullenbach (first, 9.575); Boyle (22nd, 8.725)

Floor: Mullenbach (third, 9.55); Boyle: (8.925)

All-Around: Mullenbach (first, 38.125); Boyle (13th, 36.226)