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Martin County Area’s Peterson preps for state

WELCOME — One glance at the Class A individual state gymnastics meet’s rotation that starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, and one could consider it a good omen for Martin County Area senior standout Bryanna Peterson.

Ironically, the Magic’s four-time state qualifier opens the best-of-the-best competition on the University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion’s equipment in Minneapolis in the same order as last Saturday’s Section 3 Meet in Windom.

Peterson established the sectional’s record for highest all-around point total (38.425) by producing an even rarer feat — a sweep of all four events: floor exercise (9.625), vault (9.6), uneven parallel bars (9.7) and balance beam (9.5), respectively.

“We (coaching staff) noticed that the individual state rotation is identical to our section meet. Ironic,” said Martin County Area mentor LeeAnn Steen. “It (rotation) worked well for her before at conference and section, so she might as well go for a threepeat.”

Indeed. Despite not keeping official individual results at the Big South Conference Final Four competition on Feb. 11 in Welcome, Peterson established the Magic program’s all-time all-around mark by generating a score of 38.275.

When compared to her Final Four foes, Peterson made a clean sweep of all four pieces of equipment, including a tie with Jackson County Central’s Brooklyn Schuett on floor at 9.55. Peterson also topped the BSC field on the vault (9.6), unevens (9.625) and beam (9.5).

“Bryanna has put in a good week of practice getting prepared for her fourth and final state meet,” said Steen. “Her teammates have kept her company in the gym by working skills for next season, while she’s been working on the basic elements of her routines.”

Peterson and her fellow Section 3 qualifiers will open the Class A individual showdown on the floor during the second overall rotation.

“I like the fact that she’s starting on floor — it’s been a strong event for her,” said Steen. “She’ll throw her double pike, Ruedy and double-full to highlight her tumbling passes on floor, and has hit all of those elements quite consistently this season.”

Peterson then moves to the vault table where she’ll throw her Yurchenko against numerous Tsukaharas during the fourth overall rotation.

“Her blind change, counter-swing from a handstand and toe-off dismount will be the skills to look for from her on the (uneven) bars,” Steen said in reference to Peterson’s third event of the meet.

The Magic senior sensation closes out the Class A individual competition by stepping onto the balance beam in the final rotation of the day. Peterson will look to convert her two back-handsprings connection, standing back-tuck and round-off full off of the apparatus into a medalist-contending score.

“I’m not much of score-watcher, so I’m not as concerned about what the other competitors do that day, but focused on Bryanna doing her best,” said Steen. “If she executes, her routines are strong enough to compete with anybody there, and there are numerous outstanding gymnasts at state.”

Nineteen of 30 event medalists return Saturday, with defending Class A state all-around champion Maddie Mullenbach of Austin, 2016 runner-up Cora Okeson of Detroit Lakes, fourth-place finisher Melrose Area’s Mady Brinkman and Melrose Area teammate Kayla Austing — fifth in the all-around — headlining the state meet’s marquee.

Melrose Area’s Greta Klaphake will look to defend her Class A vault crown, Detroit Lakes’ Emma Disse will take aim at doing likewise on the floor, while Mullenbach will look to duplicate gold on the beam.

“I’m looking foward to a nice weekend filled with great gymnastics,” said Steen.

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