---

As near as the North Branch athletic department can tell, the last time a North Branch gymnast made it to state was Laura Maple in the late 1980’s. Now, in 2005, Allyssa Houle has added her name to that short list. Last Saturday at the section 7A gymnastics meet, Houle not only qualified in one event, but essentially, advanced in them all after finishing third in the all-around competition. The top four places in each event qualify for state. The North Branch ninth-grader also qualified in the bars and floor, placing second and fourth respectively in those events. The state individual meet will take place on Saturday in St. Paul.

Joining Houle will be Chisago’s Britni Harris. After appearing at state as a seventh-grader when the Chisago Lakes team advanced to the big show, Harris will return as an individual on the vault. At sections, Harris scored an 8.8 on the vault, putting her fourth overall. Harris also placed in the top 10 in every other event, putting her eighth in the all-around.

“She’s been there before. She knows the pressure involved, and I think that’s going to help her relax a little bit. I expect her to do really well,” said Brett Kjos, Chisago Lakes co-head gymnastics coach

As for the team competition, thanks to one of their strongest performances of the season, Chisago Lakes placed fourth overall, scoring a 126.850. North Branch ran fifth. For the second straight season, Mahtomedi won sections.

“I was hoping for third and we just missed it,” remarked Kjos. “Basically, we finished right where I thought we would. I really thought the girls did a fantastic job. They were really focused and they gave it all they had.

The individual portion of the state gymnastics meet begins at 11 a.m. at the RiverCentre. The team competition kicks off on Friday.

Section 7A Gymnastics Meet

Team Results-

1. Mahtomedi 140.875

2. South St. Paul 131.950

3. St. Anthony 127.050

4. Chisago Lakes 126.850

5. North Branch 124.550

6. Quad Cities 118.650

7. Chisholm/Hibbing 111.500

8. Fridley 102.825

9. Columbia Heights 83.425

*Mahtomedi advances to state

Chisago Lakes Results:

Vault-

4. Britni Harris 8.8*

Amanda Bergerson 8.1

Andrea Olsen 8.0

Alex Thomsen 8.0

Ana Peltier 7.850

*Harris advances to state

Bars-

8. Britni Harris 8.150

Alex Thomsen 7.5

Ana Peltier 7.3

Amanda Bergerson 7.3

Andrea Olsen 7.3

Beam-

8. Britni Harris 8.475

Alex Thomsen 8.3

Andrea Olsen 7.8

Amanda Bergerson 7.625

Ana Peltier 7.350

Floor-

10. Britni Harris 8.325

Alex Thomsen 8.025

Andrea Olsen 7.650

Amanda Bergerson 7.5

Ana Peltier 7.275

All-Around-

8. Britni Harris 33.750

Alex Thomsen 31.825

Andrea Olsen 30.750

Amanda Bergerson 30.525

Ana Peltier 29.775

North Branch Results:

Vault:

T9. Allyssa Houle 8.400

Kelsey Lloyd 8.350

Aileen Shanley 8.175

Shayna Bauer 8.0

Sam Jannings 7.8

Uneven Bars:

2. Allyssa Houle 8.550*

Kelsey Lloyd 7.0

Shayna Bauer 6.4

Sam Jannings 6.3

Aileen Shanley 5.6

*Houle advances to state

Balance Beam:

Allyssa Houle 8.4

Aileen Shanley 8.025

Kelsey Lloyd 7.850

Shayna Bauer 6.425

Angelis Pietila 6.375

Floor:

4. Allyssa Houle 9.2*

Shayna Bauer 7.9

Aileen Shanley 7.9

Kelsey Lloyd 7.675

Barbi Berkman 6.5

*Houle advances to state

All Around:

3. Allyssa Houle 34.550*

Kelsey Lloyd 30.875

Aileen Shanley 29.700

Shayna Bauer 28.725

*Houle advances to state

---