Westosha/Union Grove gymnasts make All-State team

By Dan Truttschel~Sports Correspondent

Four members of the Westosha Central-Union Grove girls gymnastics team recently earned All-State honors from the Wisconsin High School Gymnastics Association.

Leading the pack is senior Aslyn Wolcott, who was named first team on the bars.

Joining Wolcott are senior Patience Spinler, second team (all-around), and freshmen Lexie Biggs (all-around) and Sydney Rau (all-around), honorable mention.

All four girls will be honored at the WHSGA Honors Banquet April 14 in Wisconsin Dells. Among the other honorees is Burlington-Badger-Wilmot-Catholic Central head coach Diane Biedrzycki, who was named Division 1 Coach of the Year.

Wolcott completed a stellar four-year varsity career for the Falcons.

For the season, she led the team in scoring average on bars (8.665), on beam (8.759), on floor (8.69) and in the all-around (35.2). She also was second on vault (8.51).

Wolcott, who placed at each of the Falcons’ invitational meets this season, also placed in four events at the Southern Lakes Conference Meet.

And Wolcott did all that while she tried to heal from a broken leg she suffered last January. The injury prevented her from competing in the all-around until Jan. 19.

“She had doubts in the beginning of the year, as she still has a metal pin in her ankle,” Central head coach Bill Price said. “It was hard on her this season, but she never gave up. Even though she never got back to 100 percent, look what she did. Wow.

“(She was) one of the most competitive gymnasts I have ever had in my 34 years of coaching. She matured into a team leader this season, (and) even gave up a vault spot so another teammate could participate in a dual meet.”

Price said when Wolcott left the lineup with the leg injury last year, the team finished 0-8 with a top score of 116 points. But when she returned, the Falcons were 5-3 with a top score of 139.975.

For her career, Wolcott was named the team most valuable four times and won or placed 48 times at invitationals and conference meets. As a sophomore she won the SLC all-around title and had state trips as a sophomore on the bars and as a senior on the beam.

“When she came in (as a freshman), you could tell she was special, and she leaves the same way,” Price said. “There will never be another Aslyn Wolcott for what she brought us.”

Spinler also battled injury as a senior, as she didn’t compete in the all-around competition until late January.

But from there, and once she added four events to her repertoire, she became more competitive, Price said.

“She has always had tremendous skill potential, but little things always got in her way,” he said. “Besides the knee injury, she had back problems. (But) she managed to shake it off to finish her senior season strong.”

Spinler led the team on the vault with an 8.65 average, and she also had five meets when she scored a nine or higher on the beam. In addition, she placed in the all-around at three meets, Price said.

When Spinler joined Wolcott back in the lineup, Price said the Falcons’ team score increased by 15 points.

Both Biggs and Rau put together strong freshmen seasons for the Falcons.

Biggs competed in the all-around for most of the season and had her best effort against the eventual state champions, Franklin, with a 32.65.

Rau competed in 14 of the team’s 15 meets in the all-around competition. She won the team award for the most points on the floor exercise.


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