YMCA ‘Pinks’ team takes home state title

Published 6:59 pm Friday, March 27, 2009

It was by the smallest of margins and it came unexpectedly, but the Austin YMCA ‘Pinks’ gymnastics took home it’s first ever Minnesota Amateur Gymnastics Association state title at the Division 2 meet in Faribault last March 21.

Austin edged out Mankato by a score of 130.375 to 130.075 to get the win.

“I already knew the results before they announced the winners, so the girls kept looking at me as they were reading the scores,” YMCA Gymnastics Director Barb Taylor said. “I couldn’t look back at them because I knew I’d give it away.”

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It was a group effort that propelled the team, which has nine athletes from ages 9-16.

“Part of the reason we won is we have a lot of depth,” Taylor said. “We have at least four strong people in every event.”

Taylor’s teams had finished runner-up before at state, but they weren’t exactly predicting a state title on Saturday.

“We had a good day, but it wasn’t our best. We were hoping for the top three,” she said. “They weren’t expecting this. But they worked real hard this year and I’m so proud of them.”

The team includes seven athletes from Austin — Maddie Mullenbach, Sarah Holtz, Hannah Voogd, Kristine Snyter, Caroline Hackel, Abby Snater, and Cassidy Bawek. While Emily Goskeson of Albert Lea and Elizabeth Willert of Blooming Prairie are the other two athletes on the team.

The ‘Pinks’ team is chosen based on ability and tryouts are held.