Austin’s No.

Friday, January 07, 2000

Austin’s No. 1 gymnast Amy Bickler didn’t compete in the floor exercise on Tuesday in Waseca because of nagging injuries.

That opened the door for fellow sophomore Suzanne Kooy, whose all-around victory led the Packers to a 134.325 to 131.9 win.

Kooy won the all-around with a score of 34.575. Austin’s Jenna Bernardo finished second with a 31.225 score.

Kooy won the floor with a 9.05 and finished second on the uneven parallel bars with an 8.7. Teammate Andrea Anderson won the bars with a 9.275. Bickler took third in the event with a 8.35, giving Austin a 1-2-3 sweep in the event.

Kooy also finished second on the balance beam with an 8.625.

Bickler won the vault with a score of 9.4; Bernardo was second with an 8.975.

"We were extremely strong on the vault and bars," Coach Rhonda Alberts said. "We pulled away from them in those two events."

Waseca’s Gina Ryan won the beam with an 8.675.

The win lifted Austin’s dual meet record to 3-2.

Austin competes Saturday in the 16-team Faribault Invitation.

Section 1 power Lakeville will be there along with several other top teams in the Big Nine and the state, including Mayo, Century, Eastview and Rosemount.

Alberts said the meet will be a true test for Austin.

"All the big schools are there," Alberts said. "It’ll be a chance for us to see where we fit in, how we measure up.

"Individually, it’ll give the girls a chance to see if where they are among the state’s best."

Austin is fighting nagging injuries entering the meet – to Anderson, Bickler and others. The injuries are keeping those gymnasts from competing in all four events.

But Alberts is pleased with the team’s performance to date.

"We’ve got lots of potential to get better," she said. "We just need to get healthy."