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It’s like a holiday after the holidays. Every season, the Chisago Lakes gymnastics team looks forward to the Big Lake Invite, and for good reason. It offers a midseason report card, and it also provides an opportunity for teams to pick up some momentum by kicking off the new year on a high note.

In terms of a letter grade, the Wildcats graded off the charts. Give them an A++ for their first place finish. Out of three divisions, the ‘Cats competed in Division II with Litchfield and Waconia.

“The Big Lake Invite is usually the meet we really look forward to all season. The teams that are involved are usually pretty good and it gives us great competition,” said Brett Kjos, Chisago Lakes co-head gymnastics coach. “For that meet we were placed in division II based on our previous meet scores. I really like that format because we face teams that are around our skill level instead of getting pummeled by the elite teams. It really makes for some good routines when they know every point counts.”

Not good, how about great routines. Individually, the Wildcats got several top-notch performances from everyone involved. Things went so well that the Wildcats placed four gymnasts in the top six of the all-around competition. Britni Harris finished second overall followed by Sasha Schoen who came in third. In addition, Alex Thomsen placed fourth and Ana Peltier came in sixth.

Chisago was on top off their game all afternoon. Starting off with the uneven bars, usually their weakest event, the Wildcats exploded with their highest score of the season. Harris posted a score of 8.425 which put her first overall in the event. Right behind her was Thomsen who placed tied for second overall. As a team, Chisago scored a 30.325. They usually score between 27 and 28.

“They really nailed their routines,” mentioned Kjos. “They were all really excited.”

However, that excitement didn’t last long. Up next was the beam where the ‘Cats finished with 11 falls, their lowest score of the year. Harris and Schoen were the only Chisago gymnasts to place in the top eight overall on the beam. Harris finished fifth while Schoen came in sixth.

But the Wildcats were determined to finish strong and that’s exactly what they did. In the final two events of the meet, the vault and floor, the ‘Cats roared back, scoring over 32 points in both events. The performance was good enough to propel them into first.

“We had set a goal of scoring a 120 before the meet and it seemed like it was impossible (after the beam). In order to achieve a 120, we would have to average around 32 on both the floor and vault,” remembered Kjos. “The girls were very determined to get that 120 and they went out and got it. It was awesome. They gave everything they had. I cannot say enough about these girls.”

It was the perfect way to end it. Schoen, who saw her first varsity time after sitting out the first month of the season with mono, led the Wildcats on the vault by finishing third overall. On the floor, Harris posted an 8.4, putting her second overall.

Big Lake Invite- Division II

Team Totals-

1. Chisago Lakes 120.325

2. Litchfield 118.375

3. Waconia 116.825

All-Around Results (CL only)

2. Britni Harris 31.85

3. Sasha Schoen 30.225

4. Alex Thomsen 29.85

6. Ana Peltier 28.4

Chisago Lakes Results:

Vault-

3. Sasha Schoen 8.325

5. Britni Harris 8.2

6. Ana Peltier 8.175

7. Alex Thomsen 8.05

Hannah Schoenmann 7.65

Beam-

5. Britni Harris 6.825

6. Sasha Schoen 6.4

Alex Thomsen 5.9

Ana Peltier 5.8

Amanda Bergerson 5.6

Bars-

1. Britni Harris 8.425

T2. Alex Thomsen 8.0

5. Sasha Schoen 7.55

Ana Peltier 6.35

Amanda Bergerson 5.75

Floor-

2. Britni Harris 8.4

4. Ana Peltier 8.075

6. Sasha Schoen 7.95

7. Alex Thomsen 7.9

Amanda Bergerson 7.2

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