Writer’s note: Sydney Rau was named first-team all-Southeast/Classic-8 conference in the vault, her second straight honor since joining Kenosha Combined.
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
Two Westosha Central gymnasts, seniors Sydney Rau and Lexie Biggs, are accompanying their Kenosha Combined Gymnastics squad to the WIAA Division 1 state tournament in Wisconsin Rapids this week.
Kenosha Combined, which finished second to Franklin/Muskego/Oak Creek/Whitnall in the Waukesha West sectional, snagged two top five finishes in the floor exercise, uneven bars and vault and had one among the top five in the balance beam.
Rau, who participated in the vault and uneven bars, had an 8.55 in the uneven bars, fourth best on the team and tied for 10th overall among 40 competitors.
“Syd has been working hard to improve her bar score. She has been focusing on keeping her feet up on her release and overall form of her routine. She has been a great contributor to our team this year,” said Kenosha Combined coach Nikki Cooper.
The Westosha Central senior notched an 8.6 in the vault, fifth best among the Kenosha Combined team.
In recent weeks, Cooper has shuffled the lineup, placing Biggs into the floor exercise rotation, citing Biggs’ ability in clutch situations.
“Lexie has always been a contender for the fifth spot on our floor lineup.” Cooper said. “She presents well and knows how to kick it up a notch when it really counts.”
Biggs produced a score of 8.775, fifth best and 17th overall among 40 competitors.
Junior Molly O’Boyle of Kenosha Combined garnered the most honors, with first in the uneven bars (9.425), floor exercise (9.7) and second in the vault (9.35).
Mady Marko, a senior, finished tied for fourth in the vault (9.3) and third in the floor exercise (9.4).
Other top five finishers were freshman Maya Weyker (fifth, balance beam, 9.05) and senior Kaila Barden (fourth, uneven bars, 9.2).