---

Dakota Esget made history last year, becoming the first North Branch gymnast to ever win a state championship.

This year, the junior doubled up on that feat and not only successfully defended her uneven bars crown, but she also added the all around state championship to her cache. In the process, she became a three time state champion with still another year of eligibility for North Branch.

Esget narrowly missed out on loading her neck up with even more hardware, finishing in second place in the vault and floor exercise, as well.

Her uneven bars defense was impressive, as Esget scored a 9.4875, which was over a tenth of a point clear of second place Lucy Penttila of Simley in a sport that often  comes down to hundredths of a point.

“There was a lot of pressure on her being the defending champion and opening with her uneven bars routine, but she nailed it right out of the gate,” Head Coach Chris Johnson said. “I think having such a good performance in that event helped her relax throughout the rest of the events.”

Esget’s vault performance was also top notch. She and state champion Avery McAllister of Perham were in another stratosphere compared to the rest of the competition. 

McAllister, a senior, won the event with a 9.825 while Esget scored a 9.725. Lyndi Koosman of Willmar finished a very distant third with a score of 9.4375.

“Her vault was spectacular,” Johnson said. “She and Avery were the only girls to execute a Yurchenko back layout, and that’s why their scores were so much higher.”

Johnson also noted that Esget broke the school’s vault record with the performance. Ironically, the previous longtime record holder was Katy Trunk, who was on hand at the state meet as a physical trainer working for MSHSL It was a fun moment for the past and present of North Branch’s gymnastics  to collide.

On the floor exercise, things were much more competitive, meaning the pressure was rising around Esget. Still, the talented gymnast remained calm and delivered a spectacular routine. She scored a 9.525, a tenth of a point behind senior Hali Bullerman of Worthington, who won the state title.

Although Esget’s beam routine was her lowest score of the day, the fact that she stayed upright and kept her score high enough allowed her to claim the all around crown, so it was just as important as the others. She finished 21st in the event with a score of 8.8375.

“The beam has never been Dakota’s strong suit, but she knows if she can put up a strong, solid routine and stay upright, she could do enough to win the all around, and she nailed that,” Johnson explained.

Esget’s all around score tallied 37.5750, besting Bullerman’s 37.2375, and giving Esget the thrill of her lifetime hearing her name called last as the champion. “The support Dakota had down there and how our team has stuck together this year has just been great. It was such a fun atmosphere!” Johnson said. The all around score also broke Trunk’s decade old school record as well. 

Esget still has one year left, and Johnson noted that sections were in North Branch next year, so she’ll have everything set up for a successful senior season and the chance to gather more hardware!

Rhein and Nielsen both earn top 10 finishes

Chisago Lakes’ Ella Rhein and North Branch’s Libby Nielsen also participated in the state meet. 

Nielsen (right), a senior, competed in the balance beam and secured a seventh place finish with a score of 9.1625.

Rhein (left), who is a junior, qualified in three events. Her best finish was a 10th place in the uneven bars with a score of 9.0500. She finished 21st on the vault and 27th on the floor.

---