Gymnasts set season-high 137.375 total during loss to state-ranked Melrose

The Benson-KMS-Montevideo gymnasts scored a season-high 137.375 points, but it still wasn’t enough to beat Melrose Area in a dual meet at the Benson Armory, Thursday night.
Melrose, ranked second in Class A, scored 149.275 points to clinch another WCC title.  Benson-KMS-Montevideo dropped to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the WCC with the loss.
It was the highest score for the Benson-KMS-Montevideo gymnastics program in over a decade, and you probably have to go back to the 2005 season to find a score that is higher.  The school record for the gymnastics program is 141.375 points, set Feb. 19, 2005 by Allison Johnson, Kristi Steinhaus, Carrie Hanson, Brittany Johnson, Sarah Hengel, and Jessica Ascheman.
During the meet with Melrose, Benson ninth-grader Mariah Ahrndt scored 36.4 points to place third overall with a personal best score that is only a half-point away from Sara Wilcox’ school record of 36.9.
Benson-KMS-M has just three more meets scheduled before the Section 6A Meet at Willmar, Saturday, Feb. 18.  The Fighting Braves were set to host Litchfield in the final home meet, Tuesday before traveling to Hendricks for a meet, Friday, Feb. 3, and competing in the WCC Gymnastics Meet at Melrose, Saturday, Feb. 11....
 
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Pictured: Makenna Kelley-Wieland (left) begins her balance beam routine during the Fighting Braves’ meet with Melrose Area last week in the Benson Armory.  The gymnasts set a season-high point total against the state-ranked visitors.