---

SECTION 7A GYMNASTICS

North Branch and Chisago Lakes are in arguably the toughest gymnastics section in the state. Section 7A features five of the top 17 ranked teams in Class A, including three in the top 10, so the competition is fierce and the qualification standards are high.

But, through it all North Branch and Chisago Lakes still got some individuals to qualify for the state gymnastic meet, despite falling short in the team competitions.

Dakota Esget was the highlight for North Branch. The reigning state champion in the uneven bars won the all around event and qualified for all four categories of the state meet, including vault, floor exercise, balance beam and the aforementioned uneven bars. Esget was the section champion on the balance beam, scoring a 9.375, and also took the championship on the floor exercise with a 9.40. Those two wins, paired with a third in the uneven bars and seventh in the vault propelled Esget to all around championship with a score of 37.075, just a half a point ahead of Lauren Hansen of Monticello.

Esget will be joined at the state meet by teammate Libby Nielsen, who also qualified on the balance beam. The senior took fourth place overall in the event with a 9.150

For Chisago Lakes, Ella Rhein was the only competitor to earn a trip to the state meet, but she made it in three events, the uneven bars, the floor and the vault. She made her return to state behind a fifth place finish on the vault, a second place finish on the uneven bars and a fourth place finish on the floor. Her uneven bars routine scored a 9.25, which was less than a point from Hansen, who took home the section title in that event.

Rhein had a tough time on the balance beam, falling twice, and that prevented her from going to state in the all around.

“Ella did great and we’re excited for her to continue to compete this season,” Chisago Lakes Head Coach Brett Kjos said. “Another highlight for us was Alicia Krieg. She spent most of her practice time doing her balance beam routine over and over and over in the weeks before section. It paid off with a personal record, and since she is a senior, it was her last beam routine ever. It was awesome to set her record in the last meet.”

As a team, North Branch finished in third place with a very nice 139.400. Mississippi 8 Conference foes Becker and Monticello finished in front of them, however. Becker took the crown with a 144.650 and Monticello, who was the second ranked Class A team in the state coming in, finished second with 142.775 points. Chisago Lakes, who was missing star gymnast Charlotte Johnson due to injury, finished in fifth place with a score of 134.050. Defending state champion Big Lake finished fourth with a 138.700.

The Class A Individual State Meet will begin at 11 a.m.  Saturday, February 24 at Roy Wikins Auditorium in St. Paul. Esget and Rhein will both open with the uneven bars routine, with Esget looking to repeat as state champion in that event.

---