Packer gymnasts continue growth after dropping a close dual to Northfield
Published 8:59 pm Thursday, January 11, 2024
Austin’s Katelynn Klouse turns to find the bar during her performance against Northfield Thursday night at the YMCA. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Callie McRae performs on the uneven parallel bars against Northfield. Herald File Photo
Austin’s Lexie Pollak performs on the uneven parallel bars against Northfield Thursday night at the YMCA. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Kiki Rodriguez hits the vault in a dual against Northfield Thursday night at the YMCA. Herald File photo
Austin’s Juliette Zimmerli leaves the vault during a dual Thursday against Northfield at the YMCA. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Reese Norton leaves the vault during a dual Thursday against Northfield at the YMCA. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
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The Austin gymnastics team has one of its more experienced squads in recent years and the team is taking its 130.975 to 130.425 loss to Northfield at the YMCA in Austin Thursday as a mix of fuel for the future and another lesson.
While they’ve been young in the past, the Packers finally have a strong core of experienced gymnasts and that showed in the results as junior Kiki Rodriguez took first in the all-around, junior Reese Norton took third in all-around and junior Katelynn Klouse took fifth in all-around.
“We’re definitely making improvements and we’re fighting through some soreness,” Klouse said. “I definitely see more of a want than we had in previous years, and we’re working more as a team to get a higher score together.”
Rodriguez took first in vault and bars, but she finished fifth in floor after taking a tumble on her first jump.
“I just take that as a learning experience. It’s something I can go back, rework and see what I can fix,” Rodriguez said. “This year is going well. I’ve been working on some new skills and getting more consistent.”
Norton took first in floor and second in beam for Austin.
The Packers have about a month left of competition before the postseason begins and they’ll continue to push each other in practice and support each other on meet nights.
“At the end of the day we’re a family and no matter what is said or done, we always come back together,” Klouse said. “That’s why we’re as strong as we are.”
AUSTIN RESULTS
All-around: Kiki Rodriguez (first, 34.525); Reese Norton (third, 32.875); Katelynn Klouse (sixth, 31.450);
Vault: Kiki Rodriguez (first, 9.050); Emily Klapperich (third, 8.500); Katelynn Klouse (fourth, 8.500); Juliette Zimmerli (seventh, 8.150); Reese Norton (eighth, 8.050)
Bars: Kiki Rodriguez (first, 8.900); Katelynn Klouse (sixth, 7.450); Callie McRae (seventh, 7.450); Reese Norton (eighth, 6.950)
Beam: Reese Norton (second, 8.675); Kiki Rodriguez (fourth, 8.075); Katelynn Klouse (sixth, 7.625); Callie McRae (eighth, 7.375)
Floor: Reese Norton (first, 9.200); Kik Rodriguez (fifth, 8.500); Callie McRae (sixth, 8.300); Emily Klapperich (seventh, 7.875); Katelyn Klouse (eighth, 7.875)
