By John Vrancic

For the Daily Press

ESCANABA — The Escanaba gymnasts enjoyed another record-setting night here Wednesday in a 129.2-112.9 triumph over the Marquette Redettes.

Wednesday’s point total was just enough to set a school record for the Eskymos, whose previous best (129.1) took place at Negaunee last week.

Sophomore Sophia Wagner won all four events. She scored 34.4 points in all-around and had 9.1 on vault, 8.9 (floor exercise), 8.65 (balance beam) and 7.75 (uneven bars).

She also set a school record in vault (9.4) at Negaunee, topping the previous best by Abbie Derouin (9.3) two years ago.

“I didn’t even know that was a record,” said Wagner. “I was surprised to find that out. It’s real encouraging to get these scores. It prepares you for the bigger meets. I felt my tumbling was pretty high, and handsprings went well on floor. This is the first time I stayed on the beam this season. I started (with gymnastics) when I was three years old. It helps to have all that experience. I had a higher score on the bars last week, although it went all right overall tonight. My landings felt good. Our vault went real well, and nobody fell off the beam.

“Marquette is good competition. They had some good scores in vault.”

Esky, however, swept all five places in vault and grabbed the top four spots in all-around.

Senior Lizzy Sliva was runner-up in all-around (31.95), and sophomore Riley Martin placed third (31.3).

“My floor went real good in Negaunee,” said Sliva. “That was probably one of my better meets for a season-opener. I think we did well tonight. This is one of our better teams in my four years here. We have good potential. This is a good team for sure.”

Sliva placed second on vault (8.9) and bars (7.6) and Martin shared second with Marquette junior Tally Rasmussen on beam (8.15).

“These girls work very hard, and it’s an honor to coach them,” said Esky coach Theresa Pascoe. “We’re very strong on vault. In the past, we would vault twice a week, but now we’re vaulting every day. I saw a couple of their vaults, and when they gave her (sophomore Adalyn Trapani) an 8.1, I was very impressed. We’ve been practicing every day, and it’s paying off now. Our feeder program is paying off dividends.”

Sophomore Helana Sharp provided the Redettes with a runner-up finish on floor (8.35), took fourth on bars (7.1) and was fifth in all-around (30.35).

“We did real well,” said Marquette coach Bridget Johnson. “Our goal was to score 112 points, and we beat that. We have a lot of injuries, and I thought our new girls did well for just their second meet. Vault is definitely our strongest event, and we qualified three for regionals. We have one girl out with COVID and another with an ankle injury. It has been a struggle keeping everybody healthy.”

Esky freshman Sophia Lehto took third on vault (8.85). Senior Caitlyn Davenport placed third on floor (7.8), and Martin added a third on bars (7.25).

“Riley was out for 2 1/2 weeks with Covid and just came back Friday,” said Pascoe. “For having just three days of practice, she did very well. It seems to me our scores on floor were relatively low. The judges said their connections weren’t complete. We need to stay tight on those. Their feet did not finish the full rotation. This is the first time I recall our girls staying on the beam with no falls. I’m very proud of all these girls.”

Esky travels downstate for Saturday’s Walled Lake Western Invitational. Marquette resumes by hosting its invitational Jan. 5.

All-around — 1, Wagner, E, 34.4; 2, Sliva, E; 3, Martin, E; 4, Lehto, E; 5, Sharp, M.

Balance beam — 1, Wagner, E, 8.65; 2, Rasmussen, M and Martin, E (tie); 4, Lehto, E; 5, Sliva, E.

Floor exercise — 1, Wagner, E, 8.9; 2, Sharp, M; 3, Davenport, E; 4, Porter, M; 5, Ollila, M and Lehto and Sliva, E (tie).

Uneven bars — 1, Wagner, E, 7.75; 2, Sliva, E; 3, Martin, E; 4, Sharp, M; 5, Davenport, E.

Vault — 1, Wagner, E, 9.1; 2, Sliva, E; 3, Lehto, E; 4, Martin, E; 5, Bichler, E.