JAMESTOWN, ND. (NewsDakota.com) – Senior Haley Nelson of the Blue Jay gymnastics team won the All-Around title as Jamestown finished second at the WDA Championships on Friday night.
Nelson took the top spot in the uneven bars (9.700) and floor routine (9.700) while also taking second on the balance beam (9.650) and third on the vault (9.225). Nelson was named the Senior Athlete of the Year in the WDA, and first-year head coach Andrea Bitz was the WDA Coach of the Year.
Four other Blue Jays placed inside the top 15 in the All-Around competition, including Julia Skari who took fifth with a 36.425. Emma Hillerud finished in sixth place for the Jays, scoring a 36.150, led by a 9.425 finish on the balance beam.
As a team, Jamestown put up an overall score of 146.125, losing to only Dickinson who won their fifth consecutive WDA title with a 149.550. Century took third by scoring a total team score of 139.525.
All-Around: 1. Haley Nelson, 38.275; 5. Julia Skari, 36.425; 6. Emma Hillerud, 36.150; 10. Blair Arbuckle, 34.800; 14. Brenna Hatch, 34.500
Vault: 3. Nelson, 9.225; 5. Skari, 9.100; 12. E. Hillerud, 8.900
Uneven Bars: 1. Nelson, 9.700; 9. Skari, 8.775; 11. Arbuckle, 8.625; 14. McKenna Pettys, 8.400; 16. E. Hillerud, 8.350
Balance Beam: 2. Nelson, 9.650; 3. E. Hillerud, 9.425; 7. Skari, 9.050; 16. Jasmine Houmann, 8.450
Floor Exercise: 1. Nelson, 9.700; 3. Skari, 9.500; 4. E. Hillerud, 9.475; 6. Hatch, 9.400; 8. Arbuckle, 9.300