Gymnastics: McAllister headed to state in three events, Jackets take third at sections

1 PER Avery McAllister DSC_7896.JPG — Perham's Avery McAllister performs her beam routine at the Section 8A meet in Fergus Falls on Feb. 18, 2023.

By Jared Rubado

February 20, 2023 at 5:35 PM

FERGUS FALLS – Trips to the Roy Wilkins Auditorium have become routine for Avery McAllister.

The Perham junior qualified for state in three events on Saturday at the Section 8A gymnastics meet. McAllister will compete in the individual state competition on Saturday, Feb. 25, in St. Paul.

McAllister won the beam with a score of 9.33. She also took second on the vault and fourth (9.65) on the floor (9.175). The only event she didn’t qualify for was the bars, with a seventh-place score of 8.425.

McAllister was fourth (36.8) in the all-around standings, one place shy of a back-to-back state berth. She trailed Melrose’s Courtney Althouse (37.125). Detroit Lakes’ Gabby Whitworth (37.65) and Jerzie Horner (37.3) finished first and second, respectively.

Perham assistant coach Mike Peterson was honored on Saturday. He received the Section 8A Assistant Coach of the Year award for his efforts during the 2022-23 season.

The Yellowjackets took third as a team with a score of 136.9. Detroit Lakes won its second consecutive section title with a mark of 147.125.

1 PER Mike Peterson DSC_8504.JPG — Perham's Mike Peterson receives the Section 8A Assistant Coach of the Year award at the Section 8A meet in Fergus Falls on Feb. 18, 2023.

PERHAM VARSITY FINISHERS- VAULT- 2- Avery McAllister 9.65, T15- Andie Janke, Elise Reuter 8.65, 19- Breahna Rodewald 8.6, 20- Cailyn Greisen 8.55

BARS- 7- McAllister 8.425, 8- Greisen 8.4, 19- Janke 7.85, 21- Reuter 7.775, 23- Eve Foltz 7.625

BEAM- 1- McAllister 9.55, 11- Rodewald 8.8, 17- Foltz 8.225, 20- Reuter 8.0, 24- Greisen 7.725

FLOOR- 4- McAllister 9.175, 15- Greisen 8.5, 18- Foltz 8.35, 21- Reuter 8.3, 22- Rodewald 8.25

SECTION 8A TEAM SCORES

1- Detroit Lakes 147.125

2- Melrose 143.0

3- Perham 136.9

4- Fergus Falls 136.000

5- Little Falls 127.525

6- Park Rapids 127.125

7- Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 98.325

1 PER Avery McAllister DSC_8129.JPG — Perham's Avery McAllister performs her floor routine at the Section 8A meet in Fergus Falls on Feb. 18, 2023.

1 PER Elise Reuter DSC_8378.JPG — Perham's Elise Reuter performs her bars routine at the Section 8A meet in Fergus Falls on Feb. 18, 2023.

1 PER Cailyn Greisen DSC_8423.JPG — Perham's Cailyn Greisen smiles at the Section 8A meet in Fergus Falls on Feb. 18, 2023.

1 PER Breahna Rodewald DSC_7867.JPG — Perham's Breahna Rodewald performs her beam routine at the Section 8A meet in Fergus Falls on Feb. 18, 2023.

1 PER Cailyn Greisen DSC_7930.JPG — Perham's Cailyn Greisen celebrates Avery McAllister's beam routine at the Section 8A meet in Fergus Falls on Feb. 18, 2023.

1 PER Elise Reuter DSC_7853.JPG — Perham's Elise Reuter performs her beam routine at the Section 8A meet in Fergus Falls on Feb. 18, 2023.

By Jared Rubado

Jared Rubado is the sports editor for the Detroit Lakes Tribune and the Perham Focus. He moved to the area in September of 2021 after covering sports for the Alexandria Echo Press for nearly three years. Jared graduated from the University of Augustana in 2018 with degrees in journalism and sports managment.

Gymnastics: McAllister headed to state in three events, Jackets take third at sections

Avery McAllister is headed back to state in three events. The Perham gymnasts took third as a team at Sections on Saturday in Fergus Falls.