MENOMONIE, Wis. – The Winona State University gymnastics team continues to trend in the right direction as the Warriors continue to prepare for the upcoming postseason. Despite falling to the University of Wisconsin-Stout Friday night in a dual meet, WSU posted its highest team score of the season at 183.675. The Blue Devils edged the Warriors with a team score of 188.825.

Senior Natalie Koehler led Winona State with a second-place score of 9.55 on the balance beam. Koehler has scored at least a 9.5 on the beam in three of her six attempts this season. Leah Messelt, who hasn't competed on the beam since opening week of the year, posted a season-high score of 9.35 to place fifth in the event.

Messelt continued her strong meet by registering the Warriors' top mark on the floor exercise to finish third with another season-high score of 9.425. Katie Curtis, Shelsea Zehr and Kennedy Utz each posted a score of 9.35 to tie for fifth place on the floor.

Hannah Matuszak tallied a season-high score of her own on the uneven parallel bars with a score of 9.325 to place fourth. The freshmen duo of Curtis and Kaitlyn West posted the top marks of the day for WSU on the vault with matching scores of 9.35 to tie for fifth place. Utz finished seventh overall with a score of 9.325.

The Warriors return home next weekend to host Parents/Senior Night in McCown Gymnasium in a dual meet against UW-La Crosse on Friday, February 15. Competition is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m.