MINNEAPOLIS — When Austin junior Abby Bickler missed out on qualifying for the Class ‘A’ state meet in the floor last week, she could have pouted or lost her focus.

Instead Bickler, who was competing in the All-Around at the Class ‘A’ meet Saturday, used it as motivation to put forth her best floor routine of her career.

Although Bickler couldn’t win an individual title in the floor because she didn’t finish the top four at the Section 1A meet, she put up the best floor routine of the day at the state meet with a score of 9.775 at the University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion Saturday. That score propelled Bickler to a fourth place finish in the All-Around competition with a score of 37.900.

“I’ve worked very hard this season. It’s good to get what I feel like I’ve deserved,” Bickler said. “Although I didn’t qualify in floor, to know I have the best score of the day was amazing. I know in my mind I did what I could and that felt really good. I knew I had it in me. I worked very hard and I just had to bring it all together.”

Austin head coach Mark Raymond said Bickler, who had placed fifth in the floor at state last season, was under the weather during the section meet and it simply caught up to her during her floor routine. He said that Bickler showed maturity by focusing on doing the best she could in the event, even if she couldn’t place in the floor.

“She wasn’t happy, but we talked about the fact that a medal is not necessarily the most important part,” Raymond said. “Her goal was to have the best floor routine at state and she still had a chance to do that. It shows a lot of character and class when someone who’s seventeen years old can figure that out.”

Bickler also came through with a solid performance in the beam when she took third with a 9.600. She scored a 9.100 on the bars and a 9.425 on the vault.

Bickler’s beam routine helped her get pumped up for the floor.

“The beam felt amazing,” Bickler said. “As I was doing my dismount I already had a smile on my face. I did everything I could and I put everything into that routine. It finally worked for me and I got the score I’d like to see. I did everything that I could today. Hopefully next season it keeps improving.”

Austin freshman Maddie Mullenbach had a big day as she finished fifth in the All-Around for the second straight year. Mullenbach had a total score of 37.700 as she took third on the floor with a 9.525 and she finished sixth in vault with a 9.475. Mullenbach had a 9.325 on the bars and a 9.375 on the beam.

“It’s fun, but it’s tough. You always expect to do a little better,” Mullenbach said. “It’s one step up. Last year we only had two on the podium [at All-Around]. This year we had three. It’s a pretty exciting day.”

Mullenbach may have finished with the same place she did last season, but Raymond said the field was tougher this year and Mullenbach has shown big signs of improvement this season.

“Gymnastics in Minnesota is getting better,” Raymond said. “Maddie continues to grow and she did a great job.”

Austin junior Carolyn Hackel scored a 9.225 on the floor and she had an 8.200 on the beam.

The Packer gymnastics program has grown leaps and bounds over the past few years and getting three girls in the top-five of the All-Around is another big step.

“I remember my seventh grade year coming and looking at all the girls competing under the lights at state,” Bickler said. “I was happy for them. To have three girls place and have a state champion felt very good and it’ll help us keep improving.”