UW-Eau Claire gymnastics competed in their last home meet of the season against UW-Lacrosse and utilized the day to celebrate their alumni and senior gymnasts.

The Blugolds competed from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10 in McPhee Strength and Performance Center. Both competing teams participated in bars, vault, beam and floor routines.

The night began however with UW-Eau Claire alumni being honored on the floor. Dozens of alumni going back decades were recognized before the current Blugolds entered the gym.

The night’s competition began with UW-Lacrosse coming on the bars and UW-Eau Claire competing on the vault.

Jessie DeZiel, the gymnastics head coach, said that she was optimistic for this season and that the team will continue to grow throughout the rest of the season.

“It’s actually going really well, we’re doing a lot better than we were last year and we’re just trying to hit our routines, that’s the main focus,” DeZiel said.

According to the Blugolds results page, the vault ended with a total team score of 46.150 and the bars had a total of 44.050 for the team.

The beam also had a total score of 46.150 and the floor routines totaled out to be 46.200. This gave the Blugolds a final score of 182.550 for the team. 

According to the same results page, the Blugolds lost by 7.65 against UW-Lacrosse’s 190.200 final score.

The Blugolds had six gymnasts competing in each event, with three gymnasts who competed in every event of the night.

Lilianna Shank, a fourth-year gymnast who specializes in bars and beams, said that the team is perceived as not as competitive and that the team likes to use that in their favor.

“In general, just don’t underestimate us because we do surprise people,” Shank said. “I think that’s the beauty of our team because everybody knows other WIAC schools are good, but sometimes they underestimate us and go wow.”

After both teams finished all of their events, the judges began to calculate the scores for each event and the overall meet. In the meantime, UW-Eau Claire dedicated time to celebrating their senior class.

Due to the fact that this was the Blugolds last home meet, DeZiel and the rest of the team thanked the five senior gymnasts with a farwell video and the seniors uniforms in picture frames to remember their time on the gymnastics team.

Harriet Toth, a second-year all-around gymnast, said the team has had some fun memories of the season, including their competitions against UW-Whitewater, and against Texas Women’s University, Air Force and Centenary College in Denton, Texas.

“Honestly this team has passion for this sport,” Toth said. “It is the most loving and passionate team and that’s what sets it apart. I can’t imagine being on any other time right now.”

According to the UW-Eau Claire athletics schedule, the Blugolds next meet is at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17 at Hamline University’s Lloyd W.D. Walker Fieldhouse.

Including this meet, the UW-Eau Claire gymnasts only have three more competitions before the WIAC Championships on Saturday, Mar. 11. 

You can follow the gymnastics team the rest of the season on the Blugolds gameday index.

Fisher can be reached at [email protected].