Success has become an expectation for the Sun Prairie gymnastics program. Before the split following 2021 and two subsequent seasons as an East-West co-op called “United,” Sun Prairie has made it to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) state meet in three consecutive seasons.
While United accomplished this feat again in the winter of 2023-24, it wasn’t always an easy road. Sun Prairie got a taste of what level it needed to be at to open the new season as it hosted the “Flip for a Cure” Invitational at Sun Prairie West High School on Saturday, Dec. 2. United finished fourth of the six teams in attendance with a team score of 126.650.
Very quickly, Sun Prairie adjusted pace and came roaring back. In United’s next meet, the Watertown Gosling Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 16, they won the six-team event with a score of 131.375. It was a dominant display from one of Sun Prairie’s key seniors, Avery Greenberg. She took first place overall in both the uneven bars (8.825) and floor routine (9.250). This impressive display led her to a second place finish in the all-around scoring.
Senior teammates also added to the push. Audrey Seefeld finished right behind Greenberg in the all-around scoring in third at 33.550. Her day was highlighted by a pair of second place finishes with a score of 8.525 on vault and 8.525 on beam. She also added an 8.850 for third on floor. Tied with Seefeld for second in the vault was senior teammate Izzy Yamoah, who also nabbed fifth on the bars with a score of 7.750.
Greenberg, Seefeld, and Yamoah teamed up with a fourth senior, Gretchen Holmes, to dominate most of the varsity scoring this winter. They led the way as Sun Prairie progressed through the regular season. United finished third at the Mount Horeb Invite, fifth at the Eau Claire Invite, and fifth at the Spartan Invite.
This led Sun Prairie to the 2024 Big Eight conference meet, hosted at Madison Memorial High School on Saturday, Feb. 17. Despite battling some bumps and bruises sustained during their busy regular season, United still put on a strong performance by finishing in third place with a combined score of 133.200. This performance only trailed champion Verona/Edgewood at 146.300 and runner-up Janesville Craig at 137.675.
Greenberg and Seefeld led the scoring charge, finishing sixth and 11th, respectively, in the all-around scoring.
Greenberg’s best effort came on the uneven bars. She finished second overall with a 9.000. She also put up a solid 8.950 on floor, an 8.350 on vault, and a 7.500 on beam. It was also a solid day for Seefeld, who’s best score came in the floor routine at 8.800. She also put up an 8.450 on vault, 7.875 on beam, and 7.350 on bars.
Yamoah was no slouch, either. She had a pair of top-10 finishes, nabbing seventh on vault (8.600) and ninth on the uneven bars (8.325). A freshman newcomer had also been making some varsity waves in the prior weeks, Sadie Seidl. She officially announced her arrival at the conference meet, impressing with a sixth place finish on the balance beam (8.650). Seidl also nabbed 11th on floor with her score of 8.750. Holmes added an eighth place finish on beam (8.550) to cap off a strong day of competition for United.
Sun Prairie knew it would have to bring its best to the next weekend’s challenge, WIAA sectionals. United had the benefit of hosting the event at Sun Prairie West High School on Thursday, Feb. 22. They emerged from a talented field, putting together a team score of 134.950 to outpace Middleton at 132.625 and finish as sectional runner-up to earn a spot at team state. Defending state champion Verona/Edgewood took home the sectional crown with a team score of 146.850.
In addition to the top two teams, the top five finishers in each event would also punch an individual ticket to state. Sun Prairie had three top-five finishes, headlined by senior Avery Greenberg with two of them. She finished fifth in the all-around scoring with a score of 34.225 and scored a 9.100 on floor to punch another ticket. Seefeld also nabbed fifth in the floor exercise with her score of 8.975. This was her second consecutive state qualification in the event.
Yamoah came very close to a pair of individual qualifications with sixth place finishes in both the all-around and vault. Her contributions were vital to the team’s qualification, though, as were performances like Seidl’s seventh place finish on floor and Holmes’ eighth place finish on the balance beam.
There was a very talented field at the 2024 WIAA state team meet, hosted at Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School on Friday, March 1. Sun Prairie had its lowest finish of its three straight appearances, placing ninth of the 10 teams with a combined score of 133.1002. Sun Prairie finished in seventh place in 2022 and eighth in 2023.
Sun Prairie’s day kicked off on the vault. Senior Izzy Yamoah set the pace for a strong day of competition, setting the team-high in the event at 8.933. Following behind, senior Avery Greenberg scored an 8.800, senior Audrey Seefeld scored an 8.500, senior Gretchen Holmes put up an 8.2667, and freshman Sadie Seidl contributed a 7.9000.
Yamoah continued her impressive day by again leading United in its next event, the uneven bars. Her score of 8.200 was followed closely behind by Greenberg with an eight flat. Additionally, junior Shaela Elert scored a 7.600, Seefeld put up a 7.5667, and Seidl added a 7.3667.
Seidle leapt up to the top of the Sun Prairie leaderboard in its third event of the day, the balance beam. She crushed the event as the only United gymnast to break nine at 9.0167. Greenberg followed up in second with an 8.5667, followed by Yamoah with a 7.4667, Holmes with a 7.3833, and Seefeld with a 7.2833.
United closed out the team meet with its strongest event, the floor routine. Sun Prairie shined brightest here with some impressive scores. Greenberg set the pace here, eclipsing nine points with a 9.100. Seefeld and Seidl were exceptional as well, scoring 8.8167 and 8.7167, respectively. Holmes also added an 8.1667 and Yamoah rounded things out with a 7.9500.
The following day, Greenberg and Seefeld returned to the mat for the individual portion of the state meet.
Greenberg put up an impressive score of 9.1167 in her floor routine to place ninth overall in the state. Seefeld was no slouch herself, putting up an 8.8167 for 18th place. In addition to her stellar floor routine, Greenberg added an 8.333 on bars, an 8.200 on beam, and an eight flat on vault, an 8. Her combined score of 33.6500 landed her in 21st place in the individual all-around scoring.
That final weekend’s action was a fitting way to send of Sun Prairie’s five-member senior class of 2024. Avery Greenberg, Audrey Seefeld, Izzy Yamoah, Gretchen Holmes, and Kylee Haak were instrumental in helping the program reach such heights in their time in high school. Greenberg and Seefeld were particularly vital as they appeared at team state in all three seasons.
United returns just two athletes with state experience for next season, junior Shaela Elert and freshman Sadie Seidl. Both were newcomers to the program in 2023-24 and made promising strides forward throughout.
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