Dakota Gold Academy gymnasts perform well in state, region championships

WATERTOWN — The Daktoa Gold Academy gymnasts of Watertown wrapped up another successful season with strong performances in the South Dakota State USA Gymnastics Championships at Rapid City and Region 4 Championships in Iowa.

The state meet produced two state championship teams, 36 regional qualifers and 64 top-3 podum finishes for DGA athletes. Dakota Gold has won four state team titles in five years under owners Bobby and Liz Linneman.

"Our coaches and athletes have built a family these past five years, with our older athletes staying with the club longer, not only to train and compete, but also to coach and mentor the up and comers alongside our full-time staff. The drive everyone has to see each other succeed is something special," Bobby Linneman said.

Dakota Gold's Xcel Gold and above qualifiers from the state meet had to option to compete in the region championships, which were held over back-to-back weekends in Iowa. Other states in Region 4 include Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wisconsin.

DGA's developmental program athletes competed April 12-14 in Bettendorf, Iowa. Eva Linneman (Level 10 vault), Aubrey Fraasch (Level 8 floor exercise) and Pipe Noteboom (Level 7 All-Around) each set season-high scores in the meet.

DGA's Xcel athletes competed April 19-21 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Kolbi Stormo (Gold vault) and Elise Henderson (Gold vault and all-around) each turned in season-high scores.

Top 10 finishes overall in region championships were recorded by Fraasch (Level 8, second floor exercise), Noteboom (Level 7, sixth vault), Annie Olerud (Level 6, 10th uneven bars), Karli Olson (Xcel Diamond, eighth on bars), Alanna Sternhagen (Xcel Platinum, ninth bars), Taylor Stormo (Xcel Platinum, eighth on beam and 10th in all-around), Abigail Benike (Xcel Gold 10th floor), Kolbi Stormo (Xcel Gold third vault, 10th bars, ninth floor and seventh all-around) and Henderson (Xcel Gold first in beams, bars, floor and all-arounjd and fourth in vault).

The top-3 podium finishers from the Region 4 Championships are pictured including Henderson, daughter of Brookes and Kristen Henderson of Watertown; Kolbi Stormo, daughter of Jason and Sherri Stormo of Lake Norden and Fraasch, daughter of Wayde and Amber Fraasch of Milbank. She is a senior who plans to pursue a military career at the United States Naval Academy.

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Season wrap for Watertown's Dakota Gold Academy gymnasts