Gymnast Baker returns to state

• Amanda Baker performs a floor exercise

Raider junior Amanda Baker performs on the floor at the River Falls Invitational earlier this season. Baker qualified for this weekend’s WIAA State Gymnastics Tournament in three individual events and the all-around at last Thursday’s sectional meet in Chippewa Falls. Bob Burrows file photo

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Hudson junior Amanda Baker qualified for the WIAA State Gymnastics Championship in three individual events and the all-around by finishing in the top five at last Thursday’s sectional tournament in Chippewa Falls.

Baker placed third in the floor exercise, uneven bars and vault while tying for fourth place in the all-around competition with a total score of 35.15.

The only event she didn’t qualify for state in was the balance beam, where she finished ninth. The Raiders finished fourth in the final team standings with a score of 132.025.

The top two teams and the top five finishers in each event advanced to the state tournament March 4 in Wisconsin Rapids.

Wisconsin Rapids won the sectional team title with a score of 137.85 while Stevens Point was second with 136.725.

Hudson junior Toria Ferrell came within .25 of earning a trip to state in the floor exercise, finishing tenth with a score of 8.9. She also finished 19th on the balance beam with an 8.0.

Senior Sarah Monette’s highest score also came on floor, where she posted an 8.55 to place 22nd. She also had an 8.2 on the balance beam to place 18th and finished 14th on the uneven bars with a 7.7.

Junior Kirstin Strom scored 8.0 on the vault to take 36th place while recording a 7.65 for 35th place on floor and a 7.35 for 26th place on the beam.

Sophomore Brooke Miller’s highest finish came in the floor exercise, where she placed 26th with a score of 8.3. She also scored 8.3 in the vault to place 33rd.

Junior Maddy Rohde boosted the Raider’s team total with a score of 8.2 in the vault to finish 31st and a 20th place score of 7.85 on the uneven bars while senior Deven DuCharme had a 28th place score of 6.95 on the uneven bars.

The WIAA Individual State Gymnastics Championships will take place Friday, March 4 beginning at 5:40 p.m. at Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School. This will be Baker’s second trip to the sate gymnastics tournament. She finished 18th in the floor exercise as a sophomore in 2010. She also competed at the WIAA State Diving Championships this past fall.

Tags: sports, gymnastics, raiders, prep