By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
Burlington senior Molly Benavides has seen her fair share of ups and down in her final preps season.
The multiple state champion gymnast has had some trouble on a few skills early in the season for the Burlington/Badger/Wilmot gymnastics teams and hasn’t been competing in all four events.
Benavides’ fortunes changed Saturday at the Pam Beck Emerald Classic, and it helped the Demons take first place.
Benavides won floor and beam, and senior Bailey Fitzpatrick won the all-around with a 37.25, and BBW scored a season-high 140.8 at the eight-team meet.
Defending state champion Franklin was second with a 138.475, and state contender Kenosha took third with a 138.4.
Burlington coach Diane Biedrzycki said her girls felt good about the big win.
“We took a six- or seven-point jump from our Franklin meet,” she said Tuesday night. “We still need to work on eliminating some falls, but it was a good, solid meet for us.”
Fitzpatrick, who is back after missing last year’s state all-around competition with a torn knee ligament, resembled her old form.
She won the vault with a 9.65 and added a victory on bars (9.7).
Fitzpatrick recently said she is going to compete in gymnastics next year at UW-Whitewater, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
In terms of Benavides’ progress, Biedrzycki said she took a big step in the right direction.
Burlington’s next big meet is Thursday, Jan. 22, and Biedrzycki said the goal is to have Benavides in every event by then.
While the past four years with the Big 3 of Benavides, Bailey Fitzpatrick and Jenna Fitzpatrick yielded early-season scored in the high 140s, Biedrzycki knows this is more of a building year.
“A 141 is a surprise to us at this point,” she said. “I’m happy with where we’re at. We feel good about what we’ve accomplished so far.”
Burlington’s Mia Trent, who attends Lake Geneva Badger High School, medaled on bars with a six-place finish (8.6).
Biedrzycki said it was Trent’s high score of the year, and she is getting her skills together.
Another Badger, Hailey Siegler, and Wilmot’s Sophia Ellsworth were key to the team score, Biedrzycki said.
BBW now has a week off before a triangular against Franklin and Kenosha in Kenosha Thursday, Jan. 22.
“It’s a tough matchup, but it’s still not a big invite, so we’re going to rush Molly back to all events,” Biedrzycki said.
Biedrzycki said her goal is have Benavides at full strength for the Madison Memorial Invite, which is Jan. 31.
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