Hamline gymnastics coach Doug Byrnes was very candid in what he was looking for in his team in their season opener against defending WIAC champ UW-Whitewater. "I want to see us compete hard," he said. "We have a young team that will grow. But the first step is to learn to battle hard." 

With just two seniors on the team, HU knew it would be a big challenge against the Warhawks. Hamline lost the match at Walker Field House Sunday by a 188.300-179.750 margin but Byrnes found plenty to be excited about. In her collegiate debut, Meghan Webb was the top HU finisher in two events, coming in fifth on the Balance Beam with a 9.400 score (the highest individual number on the day for the Pipers - Courtney Morrison was sixth at 9.350) and placing sixth in the Floor Exercise with a 9.275 effort. Co-captain Briana Bridgeford led the way on the Uneven Parallel Bars with a 9.250 score (just ahead of Kelsey Ranneklev, who tied for sixth) and Sela Fadness showed the way on the Vault, finishing seventh with a 9.275 performance. 

For complete meet results, click here. 

Hamline will see two more WIAC foes Saturday, January 16 when they compete against UW-Eau Claire and UW-Oshkosh in Oshkosh, Wis. The meet starts at 2:00 p.m.