Burlington gymnastics wins fifth straight SLC crown

By Mike Ramczyk

Sports Editor

It really wasn’t a matter of if the Burlington-Badger-Wilmot gymnastics squad would its fifth straight Southern Lakes Conference title Friday night in Paddock Lake.

That happened, no problem.

It was more a question of if the Demons would post a high score, one that could get them ready for Thursday’s sectional, which will take place in their backyard.

BBW started a bit slow but finished in grand fashion and captured its fifth straight SLC title at Westosha Central High School with a team score of 147.25.

While it qualifies as one of the highest scores in the state this season, BBW coach Diane Biedrzycki said the girls can improve at sectionals.

“It’s great for our program and we take pride in it,” she said of the SLC title. “It’s exciting to see we can hit that score with room to improve. Our focus this week is to eliminate the couple of falls we counted, and clean up little form errors and landing deductions so we can score at our potential, which should hit 150.”

The Demons started on bars, which has been a struggle this season, and struggles continued, according to Biedrzycki said. She said the team is determined to make bars a big event at sectionals.

Then, the team counted a fall on beam. However, the night ended with floor and vault, where the Demons posted a 37.425 and 37.45, respectively.

“The girls were aggressive on floor and vault, which is key,” Biedrzycki said.

For the second straight year, Molly Benavides won the all-around (38.075).

Benavides won vault (9.7) and floor (9.65). Bailey Fitzpatrick took first on beam with a 9.7, and sister Jenna Fitzpatrick notched a conference title on bars (9.625).

Bailey Fitzpatrick’s beam was a season high and gymnasium record for Central High School.

“Molly had a great meet, after a couple small errors on bars, and repeated as conference AA champion,” Biedrzycki said. “Bailey had three great events, just having struggled on bars. Jenna had a nice bar routine, strong vaults and competed her full floor difficulty for the first time this season, so that was exciting for her.”

Biedrzycki also was pleased with the team’s fourth spots.

Jacquie Fiorillo medaled on vault (8.95) and bars (8.75). Also, Ciara Johnson helped the team score on beam (8.275). Also, sophomore Sophie Ellsworth posted an 8.65 on floor.

“Fiorillo is working on adding one more skill to her bar routine to improve her score, as well as upgrading her vault,” Biedrzycki said. “Ciara had a good day on the beam to help the team score and also hit her other events. She should have a great impact at sectionals. Sophia has been doing a great job on floor, and her score keeps improving which also is a boost.”

Now, after four long months, the playoffs are finally here.

Burlington will attempt to return to state for a fourth straight year Thursday night at Burlington High School.

The Demons must finish in the top two to make it to the Division 1 state tournament, which is March 7 and 8 in Wisconsin Rapids.

Franklin, the two-time defending Division 1 champion, will battle Burlington Thursday for the top spot.

Biedrzycki is hoping her girls can put it all together for potentially the final meet of the season.

“Our goal for sectionals has to be to hit five of five routines on all events and see where we end up,” Biedrzycki said. “They are ready and just need to be aggressive and rely on their practice. Our individuals have a great chance at several spots at state, but the field this year is even deeper this year.”

The top five girls in each event will qualify for the individual state meet.

Bailey Fitzpatrick is the two-time defending state all-around champion and won bars last year.

Benavides is the defending floor and vault champion.