JACKSON – Competing on their home equipment for the first time this season, the Jackson County Central gymnastics team finished third behind a pair of teams ranked high in the state Saturday at the Sweetheart Invitational.
Class AA third-ranked New Prague was first with a team score of 145.775, with Class A second-ranked Worthington second with 142.425.
The Huskies, 16th in the Class A ratings, were next with 132.625.
Rounding out the field were Martin County Area (128.175) and Windom/Mountain Lake (127.175). Redwood Valley and Edina had been scheduled to compete but dropped out after the start time of the meet was altered due to the weather.
Two JCC gymnasts earned medals in the talented field, with both coming in the all around competition.
Payten Benda was fifth with a 33.825 total and Olivia Blaskey was sixth with 32.875.
Martin County Area had one medal winner as Anna Bachenberg placed fourth on beam with a score of 9.0.
Team champion New Prague captured all of the four gold medals.
Ava Bruegger of New Prague won the vault (9.5), floor (9.525) and all around (37.025) titles.
Jadyn Klein won bars (8.95) and floor (9.525).
JCC’s parents will be spared from moving the equipment until Tuesday night.
The Junior Huskies gymnastics program will host the Junior Sweetheart at 11 a.m. Sunday, with the Gold Medal Performance at 4 p.m.
On Monday it’s the JV Sweetheart meet at 5:30 p.m. Scheduled to join the host Huskies are Martin County Area and Worthington.
Then on Tuesday it will be time to move the equipment back across the hall after the Huskies host Luverne in a dual with the JV at 5 p.m. and the varsity to follow at about 6 p.m.
Next up for the MCA Magic is a triangular with St. Peter and Hopkins Thursday at Gustavus.
SWEETHEART INVITATIONAL
Team standings
1. New Prague 145.775, 2. Worthington 142.425, 3. Jackson County Central 132.625, 4. Martin County Area 128.175, 5. Windom/Mountain Lake 127.175.
Event champions
VAULT: Ava Bruegger (New Prague) 9.5.
BARS: Jadyn Klein (New Prague) 8.95.
BEAM: Jadyn Klein (New Prague) 9.225.
FLOOR: Ava Bruegger (New Prague) 9.525.
ALL AROUND: Ava Bruegger (New Prague) 37.025.
JCC scores
VAULT: Payten Benda 8.75, Peyton Hanson 8.65, Alexis O’Reilly 8.5, Daysia Tomlin 8.425, Olivia Blaskey 8.275.
BARS: Hannah Carson 7.8, Payten Benda 7.525, Bailey Finck 7.5, Olivia Blaskey 7.45, Makayla Hotzler 7.1.
BEAM: Payten Benda 8.65, Olivia Blaskey 8.25, Bailey Finck 8.175, Alexis O’Reilly 7.975, Maia Reed 7.775.
FLOOR: Olivia Blaskey 8.9, Payten Benda 8.9, Hannah Carson 8.625, Maia Reed 8.55, Bailey Finck 8.1.
ALL AROUND: Payten Benda 33.825, Olivia Blaskey 32.875.
MCA scores
VAULT: Ellie Hernes 8.55, Abigalle Chavez 8.5, Ava Thate 8.45, Jadyn Montgomery 8.35, Ellie Schultze 7.65.
BARS: Ellie Hernes 7.325, Ellie Schultze 7.225, Anna Bachenberg 7.175, Ava Thate 7.025, Jadyn Montgomery 6.275.
BEAM: Anna Bachenberg 9.0, Ellie Schultze 8.9, Ellie Hernes 8.075, Abigalle Chavez 7.3, Amelia Leiding 6.8.
FLOOR: Anna Bachenberg 8.45, Ellie Hernes 8.05, Ava Thate 7.85, Abigalle Chavez 7.85, Hailee Schuett 7.4.
ALL AROUND: Ellie Hernes 32.0.