Fergus Falls Edges Willmar 137.90-135.60 in CLC Gymnastics Dual

Fergus Falls edged Willmar 137.90-135.60 in a Central Lakes Conference girls gymnastics dual at Fergus Falls, a narrow result that pushed the Otters to a season-high varsity score and into the run-up to Section 8 competition. The meet highlighted a standout effort from Willmar freshman Kylie Carlson, but depth favored the host Otters.

Carlson posted the meet-high all-around score at 36.35, winning three event titles while keeping Willmar competitive. She took vault with a 9.15, led the uneven parallel bars at 8.65 and topped floor exercise with a 9.35. Carlson was second on balance beam with a 9.20. Fergus Falls junior Xiomara Jacobson finished second in the all-around at 35.9 and supplied clutch scores across the card, winning beam with a 9.25 and placing second on vault (9.0), bars (8.45) and floor (9.2). Willmar senior Carlee Brown was third in the all-around at 34.1, her top mark of the night coming on floor with a 9.1.

Event placings that shaped the dual included vault - (1) Kylie Carlson, Willmar, 9.15; (2) Xiomara Jacobson, Fergus Falls, 9.0; (T3) Mia Jennen, Fergus Falls, 8.5; (T3) Jordyn Lundby, Fergus Falls, 8.5. Bars - (1) Carlson, 8.65; (2) Jacobson, 8.45; (T3) Mia Jennen, Fergus Falls, 8.35; (T3) Carlee Brown, Willmar, 8.35. Beam - (1) Xiomara Jacobson, Fergus Falls, 9.25; (2) Carlson, Willmar, 9.2; (3) Elsa Bailly, Fergus Falls, 8.95. Floor - (1) Carlson, Willmar, 9.35; (2) Jacobson, Fergus Falls, 9.2; (3) Brown, Willmar, 9.1.

Willmar head coach Carl Shuldes reflected on the narrow loss: "It was another close one where we had a shot," he said. "We gave ourselves a chance, but just ran out of bodies by the end of the meet." The comments underscored depth and availability as deciding factors in a tight conference duel.

The result left Willmar at 1-4 in the Central Lakes Conference and 1-4 overall, while Fergus Falls improved to 3-2 in the CLC and 4-2 overall. Fergus Falls Journal reported the varsity posted a season-high 137.900 and noted, "The varsity teams advance to the Section 8 Championship Feb. 3 at Maplelag near Detroit Lakes, with the girls considered contenders for state qualification." Fergus Falls’ pluralized "teams swept Willmar" line indicates success across program levels, and the Section 8 date gives local fans a clear next milestone to follow.

Separately in the local gymnastics scene, NLS junior Kaitlyn Preheim won beam with a 9.150 and was third on bars at 8.500; NLS next competes at Glencoe-Silver Lake at 6 p.m. Thursday. Willmar is scheduled to compete alongside Detroit Lakes at Alexandria at 5 p.m. Thursday.

For Otter Tail County readers, the dual offered a reminder that individual fireworks like Carlson’s freshman breakout can coexist with program depth that carries teams forward. With the Section 8 Championship looming Feb. 3, gyms around the county will be tuning routines and rosters as they jockey for postseason positioning.