#3 Jacket gymnasts make statement in #5 Laker gym

DETROIT LAKES-- Perham gymnasts placed three of the top five all-around finishers, led by Satera Montella's runner-up score of 36.8, to defeat section rival and state-ranked Detroit Lakes by a wide margin of 144.25-140.8.

"Big score in the section," Head Coach Charlie Fleck said. "We are sure proud of our team."

Both teams have struggled through injuries this season, while remaining near the top of Class A state rankings, and the two teams were slated to be neck-and-neck with hints that the Lakers could possibly dethrone the Yellowjackets in sections this season.

That has not been the case in two head-to-head meetings this year.

#3-1A Perham defeated #5-1A Detroit Lakes in Perham 142.0-136.15 in late December.

Montella, Perham's lone senior, continued to back up her leadership role on the team winning two events, the floor exercise and balance beam. She put up a big number of 9.8 on the beam.

All-around champion, Detroit Lakes' Natalie Hoffert was second with a 9.4.

Montella's floor routine gave her another large margin of victory. She scored a 9.6 compared to two Lakers tied behind her, Jessica Stelter and Hoffert, at 9.15, along with Perham's Alexis Peichel, also scoring 9.15.

Hoffert and Montella battled it out on vault. Hoffert scored a 9.4 to Montella's 9.3.

Hoffert won the all-around over Montella by two-tenths of a point, 37.0 to 36.8.

Perham freshman Alexis Peichel gave the Yellowjackets three of four event titles winning the uneven parallel bars with a score of 9.2. Stelter, 9.1, and Hoffert, 9.05, finished second and third.

A bright spot for the Yellowjackets was the return of Carly Breitenfeldt from injury. She was competing in all four events since before the holidays.

Breitenfeldt finished sixth on vault and bars, fourth on beam and fifth on floor exercise for a fifth place finish all-around.

Her return was bittersweet as she aggravated an ankle.

The Lakers outscored the Yellowjackets in only one event, uneven parallel bars.

Outside of bars, Perham dominated the meet.

Jordan Martinson, one of the few Yellowjackets with state tournament experience, has come on strong midway through the season.

She placed fourth in the all-around highlighted by an excellent beam performance that ignited the Perham team at the start of the second rotation. She finished in third on beam with a 9.4.

Jada Halbakken added an 8.8 on vault, good for a fourth place finish.

Perham's score of 144.25 was the highest output of the season.

The Perham junior varsity pounded Detroit Lakes 130.5 to 75.0.

Varsity meet summary:

Vault

1. Hoffert (DL) 9.4, 2. Montella (PER) 9.3, 3. Martinson (PER) 9.15, 4. Halbakken (PER) 8.8, 5. Okeson (DL) 8.7, 6. Breitenfeldt (PER) 8.55

Yellowjackets 35.8, Lakers 34.95

Uneven Bars

1. Peichel (PER) 9.2, 2. Stelter (DL) 9.1, 3. Hoffert (DL) 9.05, 4. Olds (DL) 8.8, 5. Meyer (PER) 8.6, 6. Breitenfeldt (PER) 8.55

Yellowjackets 34.65, Lakers 34.9

Balance Beam

1. Montella (PER) 9.8, 2. Hoffert (DL) 9.4, 3. Martinson (PER) 9.4, Breitenfeldt (PER) 9.25, 5. Meyer (PER) 8.95, 6. Stelter (DL) 8.9

Yellowjackets 37.10, Lakers 35.05

Floor Exercise

1. Montella (PER) 9.6, T-2. Stelter (DL) 9.15, T-2. Hoffert (DL) 9.15, T-2. Peichel (PER) 9.15, 5. Breitenfeldt (PER) 9.05, 6. Olds (DL) 9.0

Yellowjackets 36.70, Lakers 35.9

All-Around

1. Hoffert (DL) 37.0, 2. Montella (PER) 36.8, 3. Stelter (DL) 35.6, 4. Martinson (PER) 35.45, 5. Breitenfeldt (PER) 35.4.

1/3: Jordan Martinson scored a 9.4 on beam early in the second rotation to give her team momentum. Bob Williams/FOCUS

2/3: Senior Satera Montella led the Yellowjackets to victory with a second place all-around finish two-tenths of a point behind champion Natalie Hoffert, of Detroit Lakes. Bob Williams/FOCUS

3/3: Jordan Martinson, center, is congratulated by teammates after her beam routine. Brian Basham/DL Newspapers