By Jennifer Eisenbart
Sports editor
What’s the scariest thing about the Burlington/Badger/Wilmot gymnastics team?
After posting a 145.625 team score Saturday to win the Falcon Invite – the best score of the season for BBW and in the state – the squad still has plenty of room for improvement.
A handful of balance beam falls and a mistake on vault kept BBW from approaching the meet record of 146.60 points, set by Racine Combined in 2004. But the Demons still showed off an impressive array of skills and talent.
“I’d rather have this at this stage of the game,” said BBW coach Diane Biedrzycki. “I’d rather be leaving this meet and looking over this meet and knowing we could’ve done better.
“I’d rather have room for improvement,” Biedrzycki added.
In spite of the issues, BBW had the best team score on vault, uneven bars and the balance beam, and was second to Franklin/Muskego/Whitnall/Oak Creek on floor.
Freshman Bailey Fitzpatrick won the vault (9.6) and the balance beam (9.25), and took second on floor (9.50) and third on bars (9.30).
Her all-around title of 37.65 was also the best, and broke the meet record of 37.60 by Queenita Gamble of Racine Combined from 2004.
“She was a little bit off in warm-ups on almost every event,” the coach said about Bailey. “I just had to keep reminding her that all the reps in practice would determine how she would do.
“Just a fierce competitor,” Biedrzycki added. “We’re learning about her she can put it together when she has a little pressure.”
Bailey’s sister, Jenna, won the uneven bars with a score of 9.65, while Molly Benavide was third on vault (9.50) and fifth on floor (9.35). She added a third-place finish in the all-around with a 36.125 total.
Benavides was the last vaulter of the meet, and looked to have a solid shot at breaking the meet record of 9.65 on the event, but came up just short.
“I have to say I was,” Biedrzycki said about being a little disappointed about Benavides’ score. “I have seen her do a little bit better vault, but I thought her second vault should have gone up (in score).”
The final medalist for BBW was Kerry Leonard, who took seventh on the beam with an 8.9 – BBW’s only other non-fall routine along with Bailey Fitzpatrick.
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