Gymnastics: Depleted Wingers suffer lopsided loss

The injuries continued to mount for Red Wing. Freshman Kaleigh Owens was held out of the floor exercise and vault after falling on ice during school, according to Wingers coach Beth Mayer.

Then, eighth-grader Kassidy Coplan — the team’s strongest and most consistent gymnast — injured her big toe on the vault and was unable to compete in the other three events. Coplan’s toe curled under her foot when she jumped on the vault board.

Without those two gymnasts, Red Wing had only three healthy competitors for the floor exercise Monday and was forced to take a zero for the fourth score. The result was a 136.55-111.625 loss to Farmington at the Red Wing Area Gymnastics Center.

“None of the injuries that I’ve seen (this season) have I ever seen before,” Mayer said. “It’s been a unique year to say the least.”

Due to a lack of numbers and in an attempt to allow her gymnasts time to heal, Mayer forfeited Tuesday’s home meet against Northfield. The focus is now on the Missota Conference championship meet Feb. 12 at Farmington.

“This has never happened before,” Mayer said of canceling a meet.

The team score also was a first. When Red Wing scored a 116.25 at Prior Lake on Jan. 5 Mayer said it was the lowest score she could remember.

Without Coplan, senior Karina Buczko led the way. She finished second on the beam (7.925), fifth on the floor exercise (8.3) and third in the all-around (31.6).

Her score in the all-around competition was a season best.

Owens placed fifth on the beam with a 7.55.

“The girls stepped up ... to put up some fine performances,” Mayer said.

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