Three Marshfield gymnasts earn state berths at WIAA Division 1 sectional

Marshfield’s Ellie Jensen, from left, Hanna Merkel and Sophie Nikolay qualified for the state meet after top-five finishes at the WIAA Division 1 gymnastics sectional Saturday at Marshfield High School. (Submitted photo)

This story is sponsored by: Chili Implement

MarshfieldAreaSports.com

Marshfield senior Hanna Merkel competes on the balance beam during the WIAA Division 1 gymnastics sectional Saturday at Marshfield High School. (Photo courtesy of Don Patterson Photography)

MARSHFIELD – Marshfield will be sending three girls to state after each earned top-five finishes at the WIAA Division 1 gymnastics sectional Saturday at Marshfield High School.

Hanna Merkel placed third in the balance beam (8.725) and the uneven bars (8.65), Sophie Nikolay finished fourth in the floor exercise (8.95), and Ellie Jensen took fifth in the balance beam (8.45) to earn berths at the 2022 WIAA State Gymnastics Championships. The Division 1 competition will be held Saturday, March 5, at Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School.

Marshfield just missed earning a spot in the team competition after finishing third with a total score of 135.45. Holmen won the sectional title with 139.325 points and Eau Claire Memorial/North finished second with 135.85 points, 4/10th of a point ahead of the Tigers.

Kamryn McNally of Holmen won the all-around title with 36.1 points. Merkel was sixth with a total score of 34.2, just 0.125 points out of fifth and a state qualifying berth. Jensen was seventh in the all-around as well for Marshfield with a score of 34.125.

WIAA Division 1 Gymnastics Sectional
Feb. 26, at Marshfield High School
Team scores (top two advance to state):
1. Holmen 139.325; 2. Eau Claire Memorial/North 135.85; 3. Marshfield 135.45; 4. Chippewa Falls 134.2; 5. Hudson 132.825; 6. Onalaska/Onalaska Luther 128.85; 7. La Crosse Logan/Central 119.375; 8. Superior/Northwestern 114.325.
Top five in all-around and four events qualify for state
All-around:
1. Kamryn McNally (HOL) 36.1; 2. Emma Loen (EC) 35.75; 3. Ava Krista (CF) 34.65; 4. Maddy Melby (HOL) 34.575; 5. Lilly Schultz (CF) 34.325; 6. Hanna Merkel (MAR) 34.2; 7. Ellie Jensen (MAR) 34.125.
Vault: 1. McNally (HOL) 9.4; 2. Krista (CF) 9.35; 3. Annabella Campbell (EC) 9.35; 4. Melby (HOL), Emily Warren (HUD) and Loen (EC) 9.0; 7. Sophie Nikolay (MAR) 8.85; 11. Phoebe Hernandez (MAR) 8.6; 13. Jensen (MAR) 8.55; 24. Serenah Tippett (MAR) 8.35; 33. Merkel (MAR) 8.1.
Uneven bars: 1. Katie Lange (HOL) 8.925; 2. Loen (EC) 8.775; 3. Merkel (MAR) and McNally (HOL) 8.65; 5. Lilly Schultz (CF) 8.475; 7. Jensen (MAR) 8.325; 8. Solenne Lonsdale (MAR) 8.275; 24. Vivian Nikolai (MAR) 7.575; 27. Tippett (MAR) 7.5.
Balance beam: 1. Loen (EC) 9.075; 2. McNally (HOL) 8.9; 3. Merkel (MAR) 8.725; 4. Riley Hinke (CF) 8.5; 5. Jensen (MAR) and Melby (HOL) 8.45; 12. Kyra Huff (MAR) 8.25; 17. Abby Pietsch (MAR) 7.875; 29. Jade Scholl (MAR) 7.125.
Floor exercise: 1. Harley Bartels (HOL) 9.175; 2. McNally (HOL) and Marin Schibbelhut (ON) 9.15; 4. Nikolay (MAR) 8.95; 5. Loen (EC) 8.925; 9. Jensen (MAR) 8.8; 12. Merkel (MAR) 8.725; 19. Pietsch (MAR) 8.5; 35. Hernandez (MAR) 7.25.