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MCA’s Peterson set for state meet

MINNEAPOLIS – Will the third time be the charm for Martin County Area junior standout Bryanna Peterson?

The highly-skilled multi-tasking Peterson captured the Section 3 all-around championship last Saturday at Cardinal Gym in Fairmont to earn her third consecutive trip to the Class A individual state gymnastics meet.

The Magic’s leading point producer literally will hit the vault table at the University of Minnesota’s Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis at 11 a.m. Saturday during the individual state competition’s first of eight rotations.

Peterson blocked, rotated and landed a Tsukahara to capture the sectional vault crown last Saturday with a score of 9.225. The Magic junior phenom netted an 8.35 on the vault at the 2015 state competition, while landing an 8.65 in the elite meet in 2014.

“We (coaching staff) had her working on a Yurchenko vault earlier in the season, but went back to her Tsuk for the conference and section meets,” said Martin County Area head coach LeeAnn Steen. “She needs a little more work on the other one, but her Tsuk is very nice and more importantly, she has confidence in it.”

Willmar’s Haley Mottinger, who captured runner-up state accolades on the piece in 2015, represents the lone returning medalist on the vault in Class A on Saturday.

Peterson then moves to the uneven parallel bars during the third state rotation at the Sports Pavilion, and will look to improve on her previous stellar showings on the apparatus.

Peterson just missed a state medal by one spot by capturing seventh place on the unevens (9.45) as a sophomore before netting 14th (8.9) as a junior.

“I believe her bar routine will be competitive at the state meet. She has a high level of difficulty and a number of strong elements in it,” said Steen.

Peterson displayed her strength and finesse by executing giants and a counter-swing on the unevens to earn the sectional gold medal with a 9.425.

Defending champion Jennifer Boyle of Austin, Perham’s Carly Breitenfeldt – third in 2015 – and Melrose Area’s Mady Brinkman – fourth a year ago – return to the unevens in hopes of duplicating their medalist efforts.

Peterson, along with Brinkman and Melrose Area teammate Kayla Austing, will take to the balance beam during the state meet’s fifth overall rotation. Brinkman won the 2015 state championship, while Austing placed fifth.

“Bryanna has the right elements in her beam routine to score, but like every event, she’ll have to be clean and stick on Saturday,” said Steen.

Peterson, who netted fifth on the beam at this year’s sectional meet with an 8.75, placed 12th (9.275) in the 2014 state competition and 17th (8.75) a year ago.

Peterson closes out the Class A individual state meet on the floor exercise in the seventh overall rotation Saturday.

Austin’s Maddie Mullenbach placed fifth in 2015 and represents the only medalist to return on the event.

Ironically, it’s the first time that the Martin County Area junior has qualified for the individual event.

Peterson, however, competed on the floor in both 2014 – a 9.25 score at the state individual meet – and last year – an 8.725 – as part of qualifying in the all-around both times.

“If she hits her ruedy and double-full on the floor, she’ll be in the running for a medal at state. If we opt to throw the double-back, it should be worthy of a top-six finish, too,” said Steen.

Peterson coasted to the Section 3 floor crown by generating a 9.55 on the judges’ scorecards last Saturday.

Brinkman and Mullenbach each rejoin Peterson in the Class A all-around competition at the University of Minnesota’s facility on Saturday in Minneapolis.

Brinkman captured the silver medal in the all-around in 2015, while Mullenbach claimed fifth overall.

Peterson finished 22nd in the all-around at state in 2015 with a total of 35.275 after netting 16th with a 36.1 in 2014.

“I’m looking for her to have a good meet. It’s what she’s been working for all season long,” said Steen.

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