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Dakota Gold gymnasts set program record for top podium finishes in state meet

Roger Merriam, Watertown Public Opinion
·1 min read
Dakota Gold Academy's Platinum Xcel team won its division recently in the 2023 South Dakota State Youth Gymnastics Championships. Team members include, from left in front, coach Kayla Norton and Annie Olerud; middle, Livi Schmelling, Joy Sullivan, Ariya Norton, coach Liz Linneman and Macie Stein; and back, coach Krisia Bramer, Lily Linneman, coach Bobby Linneman, coach Jennifer Turrill, Izzy Metz, Jessa Zimprich and coach Jessica Norton. Ariya Norton received a special award from the state hosts for her fortitude.

Steady growth in student athletes, competitive teams and the coaching staff led Dakota Gold Academy to set a new program record of top podium finishes for their USA gymnasts in the 2023 South Dakota State Youth Gymnastics Championships.

Twenty-seven DGA athletes earned top-3 finishes in the meet, which was held over two weekends at two locations. DGA had nine individual-event gold medalists, seven silver medalists and 11 bronze medalists.

Four athletes captured all-around titles and two other athletes received All-Star awards. The All-Star award recipients were selected for the highest all-around scores in their division regardless of age.

These Dakota Gold Academy gymnasts recorded top-3 finishes in events recently in the 2023 South Dakota State Youth Gymnastics Championships. Pictured are, from left in front, Ellie Ripley (Lv. 3, 3rd on Beam), Audra Hazzard (Lv. 3, 1st on Vault, Beam, Floor and AA), Ellie Henderson (Lv. 3, 3rd on Bars) and Harper Hooth (Silver, 1st on Beam, Floor and AA, 2nd on Vault and Bars); second row, Ivy Nelson (Lv. 3, 3rd on Floor), Madison Johnson (Silver, 3rd on Beam and Floor, Zoey Tesch (Silver, 3rd on Vault, Bars, Beam, Floor and AA), Adalynn Jerke (Silver, 2nd on Bars), Sunnie Talsma (Silver, 2nd on Vault and Floor), Adalyn Weber (Lv. 3, 3rd on Floor) and Scarlett Woodard (Silver, 1st on Vault and Bars, 2nd on Beam, Floor and AA); third row, Lucy Murray (Lv. 6, 2nd on Beam), Danni Cordell (Lv. 7, 3rd on Vault, Beam, and Floor), Kenley Woods (Lv. 6, 3rd on Floor), Annie Olerud (Platinum, 1st on Beam and AA, 2nd on Floor and All-Star Award Recipient), Livi Schmelling (Platinum, 3rd on Bars, Beam, Floor and AA), Norah Hatle (Silver, 1st on Bars), Abbie Olson (Silver, 1st on Vault) and Bella Norton (Gold, 3rd on Vault and Bars); and back row, Joy Sullivan (Platinum, 1st on Floor, 2nd on Bars, 3rd on Vault), Piper Noteboom (Lv. 7, 2nd on Floor), Jessa Zimprich (Platinum, 1st on Vault, Bars, Beam and  AA), Eva Linneman (Lv. 10, 3rd on Floor and Bars), Karli Olson (Lv. 8, 2nd on Floor), Izzy Metz (Platinum, 1st on Vault, Bars, Beam and AA, 2nd on Floor and All-Star Award Recipient), Lily Linneman (Platinum, 1st on Floor, 3rd on Vault and AA) and Macie Stein (Platinum, 2nd on Beam).

Dakota Gold's Xcel Platinum team came home with the program's first state champion title for that level.

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"In a sport where one tenth (of a point) separates placements at the state championships in many cases, it was incredible to see our Platinum team peak at the state meet, scoring a five points higher than where they started this season back in December," said DGA coach Liz Linneman.

"Every competing team member had a score count towards the team total, which is exceedingly rare.  We had an athlete sustain an arm injury in the first rotation of the state meet, but our girls used that circumstance to inspire them going forward, rallying behind their teammate's courage and coming up with an amazing win for her and for the team in the end.  Seeing their team bond shine so fully at state was extra special."

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on Twitter @PO_Sports.

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Twenty-seven DGA gymnasts recorded top-3 finishes in state meet.