Suspended in mid-air, Jean Spelbrink (far right) demonstrates balance and form in the floor exercise division at the gymnastics meet. (Photos by Steve Kohls)

GLENCOE-New Ulm High School won the first-ever Region Three girls gymnastics championship trophy Saturday at Glencoe with the host school second.

Team scores: New Ulm 79.25, Glencoe 57.9,Lester Prairie 54.85,Redwood Falls 52.15, Marshall 45.95, Lamberton 32.5,Tracy 30.8, Wood Lake 9.9.

New Ulm also dominated the individual competition, winning 12 of the 15 medals given out (first three places in each event).

The Eagles, coached by Mrs. Sandy Fritz, were unbeaten in 10 regular season meets. They will advance the entire team to the state girls gymnastics meet Friday and Saturday at Armstrong High School in Plymouth (10635 36th Ave. N).

The top two individuals in each event will compete for individual honors 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

REACHING FOR THE VAULT, Jean Spelbrink (above) flies on true course before touching the vault pad.

Team competition for the eight regional champions begins at 1:30 p.m. Friday with the second team session at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Robin Berg of New Ulm was all-around champion in the regional with 26.75 points. She also had three first places to garner four individual medals plus helping the team to the team trophy. She won uneven bars with 6.65 score, balance beam at 7.0 and floor exercise at 6.95.

Jean Spelbrink of New Ulm won second place all-around with 26.1 points; Karee Rasmussen was third at 24.70 and Jane Spelbrink fourth at 22.75 as New Ulm’s four talented sophomores took the top four all-around scores.

Scoring by judges was tough and the girls were more nervous than usual. It resulted in only two “7” scores all day: 7.0 by Robin Berg on balance beam and 7.15by Lisa Stockman of Glencoe on vaulting. Normally, New Ulm has a number of 7’s in its summary.

If there was a mild surprise, it was Nancy Backer of New Ulm, a freshman, taking second place medal on floor exercise. She was a last minute replacement for Susie Voves, who was not fully healthy. Nancy was the first New Ulm girl to perform on floor ex. Her 6.9 score was beaten only by Robin Berg’s 6.95.

Robin Berg (middle) who supports herself in a one-handed cartwheel on the balance beam, placed first on the parallel bars, floor exercise, balance beam and as all-around gymnast.

New Ulm’s individual qualifiers for state are Jean Spelbrink on balance beam and vaulting; Berg on uneven bars, balance beam and floor ex; Nancy Backer on floor ex.

The rest of the New Ulm roster, Nancy Zimmerman, Sara Rosenbloom and Susie Voves, can compete in the team event at the state meet as a full squad qualifies.

Glencoe is sending Lisa Stockman to state in vaulting. Kathy Albright of Glencoe took third place medal on floor ex after breaking a tie with Karee Rasmussen of New Ulm.

Only other non-New Ulmite winning a medal was Jean Newell of Marshall, who was second on uneven bars.

NEW ULM SCORING

VAULTING Jean Spelbrink 6.85, Jane Spelbrink 6.75, Nancy Zimmerman 6.4. Team 20.0.

UNEVEN BARS- Robin Berg 6.65, Jane Spelbrink 6.25, Karee Rasmussen 6.0. Team 18.9.

BALANCE BEAM-Berg 7.0, Jean Spelbrink 6.9, Zimmerman 5,9. Team 19.8.

FLOOR EX- Berg 6.95, Nancy Backer 6.9,Rasmussen 6.7. Team 20.55.

Individual results

ALL-AROUND -. Berg, NU, 26.75; Jean Spelbrink, NU, 26.1; Rasmussen, NU, 24.7; Jane Spelbrink, NU, 22,75; Kathy Albright, Glencoe, 19.2; Kris Ellingson, Glencoe, 18.2; Jean Newell,Marshall, 16.55; Sandl Smith, RF, 13.9; Wendy Rindelaub, Marshall, 12.95; Julie Doidge, Redwood, 12.95; Debble Darkow, Lamb, 11.75.

VAULTING-Lisa Stockman, Glencoe, 7.15: Jean Spelbrink, NU, 6,85; Jane Spelbrink, NU,6.75.

UNEVEN BARS – Berg, NU, 6.65; Jean Newell, Marshall, 6.4; Jane Spelbrink, NU, 6.25.

BALANCE BEAM-Berg, NU, 7,0; Jean Spelbrink, 6.9; Zimmerman, NU, 5.9.

FLOOR EX-Berg, NU, 6.95; Backer, NU,6.9; Kathy Albright, Glencoe, 6.7.

New Ulm Daily Journal

March 9, 1975