UW-Eau Claire gymnastics capped their last home meet this season with a win against Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) Feb. 22, besting the Gusties 183.000 to 174.575 on senior/parent night.

The Blugold win was their third straight, boosting their record to 9-2 overall this season.

Eau Claire won all four events: bars, floor, vault and beam. They boasted the five highest scores in the uneven parallel bars and
the vault.

Blugold freshman Kellie Dougherty had a big night.

Dougherty doubled down with career-highs on both the floor and the uneven parallel bars. She scored 9.350 on the bars and 9.275 on the floor. Both were enough to land her in the top slot of each event.

Senior Cece Solem led the charge on the vault with a 9.45 bound over four of her Blugold teammates.  Junior Olivia Aschenbrenner’s 9.350 on the beam was enough for first place over Eau Claire senior Danielle Schulzetenberg’s 9.275.

Schulzetenberg was the first Blugold this season to compete in all-around competition.  Her combined 36.150 in all four events boosted her to first place.

The Gusties did not place higher than third in any of the four individual events. Gustie senior Bailey Zeinert took second in the all-around competition.

The Blugolds dropped a Div. I meet and a meet against national champions UW-Whitewater earlier this season.  Despite the setbacks, gymnastics assistant coach Harvey Hammick said the team is poised to peak when it counts — at upcoming regional and national meets.

“We’re kicking butt and taking names,” Hammick said.

Friday night was right above par, Hammick said. The team will need strong performances across the board to best top teams like Whitewater and UW-La Crosse.

Eau Claire Gymnasts are tough on the beam.  Last year junior Micaela McCamey won top slot on the beam at nationals.

“She’s (McCamey) had some of our consistently higher scores … our whole beam lineup can go 9.5,” Hammick said.

Keith Beckstrom, a massage therapist, said he had never been to a gymnastics meet before, although he is an avid fan of Blugold sports.

Beckstrom said he was most impressed with the “enthusiasm” of the meet.

Music for the floor exercise blaring and the “raw energy” of the gymnasts are something to see, he said.

Freshman Elizabeth Stubbs said the team showed room for improvement, despite a solid night on Friday.

“I hope we can finally get everyone hits so we can get to nationals,” Stubbs said.

Eau Claire will face No. 5-ranked Winona State on the road Thursday.

Regionals kick off Saturday, March 9 at UW-Oshkosh.  Whitewater will host nationals on March 22.