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Thursday, January 18, 2007
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Freiday may be on verge of ending drought WARRIOR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Sports Editor Maggie Freiday is suffering from state meet withdrawal.
The Brainerd Warriors senior gymnast hasn't qualified to compete in a Class 2A state meet since her freshman season. If the way she's competing this season is any indication, Freiday appears on the verge of ending her drought in February.
In six dual meets and three invitationals this season, Freiday has won 14 individual events and four all-around titles. She has not been to state since the Warriors qualified as a team in 2003-04 and not as an individual since she finished 21st on vault as an eighth-grader.
"It has been hard," Freiday said of not having been at state for a while, "but you have to look at it in terms of St. Cloud Tech has a very strong team. They have a lot of club girls. To get to state you have to place in the top four, and they have the top four. They take every event. It's been hard but it gives me something to work toward. I hope to capitalize on that this year."
Freiday positioned herself as a state contender last weekend in the Lakeville North Invitational, which attracted many of the top teams in each class. She finished seventh on vault with a 9.5357.
"They call it a state exhibition meet because the best teams in the state are there," Freiday said. "To be in the top 10 is a great honor.
"I've never hit my vault at Lakeville. It's never been a good meet for me but everything kind of fell together this year."
Maras said a 9.535 is a tremendous score at any meet.
"The judges on vault were pretty sticky," he said. "They gave you what you deserved. It was the same way through the whole tournament."
Freiday doesn't have a problem with demanding judges.
Maggie Freiday
Sport: Gymnastics
Events: All-around
Year: Senior
Age: 18
Height: 4-foot-11
Weight: 120 pounds
Other sports: Track and field
Memorable sports achievement: Competing in state individual meet as an eighth-grader on vault
Grade-point average: 3.9
Favorite subject: Math
Favorite food: Pizza rolls
Favorite TV show: "Grey's Anatomy"
Hobbies: Socializing with friends, bowling
Future plans: Attend St. Cloud State, pursue degree in elementary education, minor in coaching
Athlete she admires: Former teammate Annalisa Aakhus
Parents: Kelly and Dave Freiday
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"They were all guy judges who have judged national events and Olympic tryouts," she said. "The scoring was pretty tough. Going in there the scores you got were the scores you deserve. I was happy to hit my bar routine and I stuck beam two times in a row."
Preceding the Lakeville meet, Freiday won three events and the all-around against Little Falls. The meet was Brainerd's first in 19 days.
"On vault we started off strong," Freiday said. "An event like that gets the ball rolling. My vault wasn't that strong but it kind of propelled me to work on the next three events.
"I had worked hard on bars for 2 1/2 weeks. My bar routine kept me going, I stuck beam and got a nice floor score."
Whatever happens at the end of this season Freiday will leave her mark on a program that she has been part of for seven varsity seasons.
"She came in hoping to make her senior year her best, and so far she's right on target, " Maras said. "She's working hard.
"I've just enjoyed watching her come from a youngster to becoming a veteran competitor. She doesn't appear nervous. She's not as intimidated as she was when she was a youngster. She's competing extremely well."
Other notable efforts:
Landon Stanfield, basketball, had 21 points against Rocori and 25 against Sauk Rapids to reach 1,000 for his career.
Kayla Huether, basketball, scored 27 points against Alexandria.
Tyler Jensen and Nate Rubin, wrestling, went 4-0 at the Monticello tournament.
Jared Anderson, swimming, won two events and was on a winning relay in the Section 8-2A True Team meet.
Evan Reese, swimming, won two events and was on a winning relay in the section True Team meet.
Jess Bye, girls' hockey, had two goals and two assists against Little Falls.
Nathan Puchalla, floor hockey, had five goals against Mounds View.
Megan Bates, girls' basketball, had 20 points against Bemidji.
Mike Bialka can be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.
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