UPDATED: Wildcat gymnasts, Fusion hockey compete at state

• Repeat champs

Both the Wildcat gymnastics team and the St. Croix Valley Fusion girls’ hockey team repeated as WIAA sectional champs and will compete in their respective state tournaments March 4 and 5. The Fusion will seek their third straight state title while the gymnasts will vie for their second straight. Above, gymnasts Rose Tashjian, Karlie Place, Riley Claude, Paige Skorseth and Casey Ahlborn, on floor, and Sierra Becker, Mary Butler, Amanda Guise, Megan Brown, Kayla Rohl, Ruth Anderson-Benge and Britta Grebner, on podium, display their sectional championship plaque Saturday at Meyer Middle School.

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• PHOTO GALLERY: Gymnasts & hockey

Bob Burrows photo

UPDATE: Fusion top Appleton, advance to championship

The St. Croix Valley Fusion girls hockey team won its semi-final game against Appleton 7-1 the afternoon of March 4 at the state competition in Madison.

The Fusion advance to the championship game at noon Saturday, March 5, playing the winner of a Mosinee versus Sun Prairie game.

Sophomore Sally Cranston and senior Alice Cranston, sisters, each scored two goals, putting the team ahead 4-1 at the end of the second period.

During the third period, Hailey Rock and Georgie Shimek each scored goals within 25 seconds of each other. And a minute after the last goal, Sig Dangeur scored another goal, reaching the final score of 7-1.

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Five Wildcat gymnasts will compete in the individual portion of the WIAA State Gymnastics Championships 5:40 p.m. Friday, March 4, at Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School.

Riley Claude, Paige Skorseth and Sierra Becker swept the top three spots at the sectional all-around to qualify as individuals and will be joined by Amanda Guise, sectional champ on the balance beam, and Ruth Anderson-Benge, who qualified with a third place finish on the uneven bars.

The WIAA State Team Championships will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, March 5 in Wisconsin Rapids. This is the 10th straight season River Falls has qualified for the state gymnastics tournament. They have won five straight titles in that span, including last year.

The St. Croix Valley Fusion will begin the quest for their third straight state championship when they face Appleton United in a state semifinal game Friday at noon at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. The state title game is scheduled for Saturday at noon.

Tags: sports, prep, hockey, gymnastics