State gymnastics

Continued from page 9

of 7.6667.

The judges were also slightly more harsh in their assessments on the balance beam, though both Mateer and Krause finished with better scores than the week prior in Antigo. Mateer finished with an 8.6333, an improvement both over her 8.600 from the sectional meet and the 8.050 she had earned in the 2023 state meet. Cloud, meanwhile, had a final score of 7.8500 in the team event, but came back on Saturday with her best state performance to date.

Both Mateer and Cloud competed in the individual balance beam competition the day after the team events. The pair of Colby gymnasts places 15th and 22nd respectively in the event, with Mateer earning scores of 8.60, 8.40 and 8.55 to put up a score of 8.5333 and Cloud getting 8.15, 8.10 and 7.95 from the trio of judges for a final average of 8.0667.

While the team may have hoped for slightly better overall results, Krause managed to put up a very impressive finish in her final individual all-around competition. The senior earned third place with a final all around score of 36.0999.

With the final competition of the WIAA season coming to a close, the Medford/Colby squad will now have to look towards the 2024-25 season. They will have to contend with the fact that they will be missing the services of Krause and fellow seniors Ellison Carbaugh and Kaileigh Mientke, though they will have a good number of potential returners. Mateer, Meyer and Cloud as well as Rothmeier and junior Shayla Radlinger were all key parts of this season’s state bid and are all set to lead next year’s squad as they attempt to continue the program’s success.

STRIKING A POSE - Veronica Mateer hits her mark during the floor exercise event at Friday’s team competition in Wisconsin Rapids. She also competed in the balance beam and uneven bars at the state meet.

STAFF PHOTO/MATT FREY