Co-op gymnastics team getting closer to Burlington all the time

Inching closer to its ultimate goal of defending its WIAA Division 1 state gymnastics championship, the local co-op team, consisting of gymnasts from Franklin, Muskego, Oak Creek and Whitnall, turned in another season best and cut a little more off the deficit it's had all season against the Burlington co-op, when it finished second at the Madison Memorial Invite last Saturday.

"We had our highest score by about half a point," said coach Katie Moore, "and we got a bit closer (to Burlington). Anytime we can take them on right now is a good thing. We really want to get a good idea of where we're at and where we need to be."

The locals, who have a relatively quiet week, with dual meets at Mukwonago on Thursday and then at Westosha Central on Monday, turned in a score of 144.75 as Burlington won with a score of 145.925. It was the third time FMOW has lost to Burlington this season. Waunakee (137.85) and Middleton (137.0) were third and fourth in the highly competitive meet.

FMOW hung tough with Burlington on almost every event except balance beam, on which it was outscored by .8 of a point.

"And it's not like we did badly on beam, it's just that we have to clean up some execution things that could make our score much better," Moore said.

Top places for the locals included seconds by Lauren Zurowski (Whitnall) on vault (9.45) and in floor exercise (9.45). She was also third in the all-around (36.5). "And that was with a mistake on bars that probably cost her a half-point," said Moore.

Sammie Olson (Muskego) was fourth on bars with a 9.2 score, while Jessica Kossoris (Franklin) on vault (9.05) and Shannon Hein (Muskego) in floor exercise (9.375) both took fifths. Moore was excited for Kossoris as it was a new vault that she was trying out.

Katlynn Benitez (Muskego) had a good meet, earning a fifth on bars and a sixth on beam.

"Getting as close we did (to Burlington) represents a victory for us," Moore said. "We're closing the gap and getting better and better."