The Simpson Women’s Gymnastics team held their final home meet of the season Sunday, Feb. 15, against the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where the team honored its inaugural senior class. Although the team fell short with a final score of 190.925 to 189.100, the seniors of the team shined one last time for the Storm. 

Many athletes tied school record scores or came close to them. First was on the vault, where senior Kaelyn Tally took home first place with a record-tying score of 9.800, followed by Kendall Pinkelman, who came in second with a score of 9.700. The team’s final score was 48.200, the second-highest in school history. 

The next event was the uneven bars, where junior Liz Sisler took home second place with a score of 9.675. Junior Evalyn Resnick followed close behind with a score of 9.525. Other members of the team also contributed to moving a 46.825. 

Senior Annika Cole had great things to say about her team and what it meant to compete for Simpson.

“Competing at Simpson was competing for something bigger than myself. It’s been about growing as a person, program and athlete,” she said. “Being the first-year team is helping set the foundation for years in the making, it’s setting the standard that those in the future can continue to build off of.” 

Not only did the seniors pave the way, but they also made so many memories during their time at Simpson. Senior Kayley Bristow said one in particular stood out to her.

“My favorite memory would have to be this home senior meet,” she said. “Being a part of a full senior floor lineup was something special that not all teams can say that they have the depth to do.” 

This floor group helped to complete the meet and put up the second-highest score in program history. Tally led the way again on the floor exercise with a first-place score of 9.800, followed closely by senior Bella Dix with a second place score of 9.750.

Both Cole and Bristow have high hopes for the future of the team and are excited to see where the program will go.

”I absolutely feel like the younger athletes will continue to lead this program in a positive direction,” Cole said. “They are highly skilled, motivated and determined to get better every day and every year.  They’ve had a large impact on building our culture and success of the program, and I can only see that getting better in years to come.”

The women look to bounce back in their next regular-season meet against the University of Wisconsin-Stout and Gustavus Adolphus College on Feb. 20.