Monona Grove Gymnastics 2025 Season Recap: Breaking Records and Building Momentum for the Future
The 2024-25 gymnastics season at Monona Grove High School was one for the history books. Assistant Coach Evan Gluch, who will step into the head coach role next season, guided a team through challenges, growth, and breakthrough performances. For the first time in 44 years, the Silver Eagles returned to the state meet — not just to compete, but to finish as state runners-up and shatter school records along the way.
In this exclusive Winter Season Recap, Coach Gluch shares the highs and lows of the season, the standout gymnasts who fueled the team’s success, and the promising future of Monona Grove gymnastics.
Team Effort: Key Contributors Driving Success
Coach Gluch is quick to credit the entire varsity roster for the team’s achievements. “Allison Ivanov, Leah Faulkner, Josette Rossing, Nola Benson, Kennedy Sefcik, Ella Tweedy, Savanna Gangstad, and Ava Ring — every one of them stepped up as point contributors and leaders, both on and off the mat,” he said.
Their collective effort helped build a foundation that supported consistent improvement throughout the season. The leadership these athletes showed fostered growth and a winning mindset that culminated in historic performances.
Season Overview: From Early Struggles to Record-Breaking Triumphs
The season began with uncertainty. Injuries sidelined key players, and the team faced the challenge of adjusting routines to maximize scoring potential. “The first two months were a whirlwind,” Gluch explained. “We had to work through those kinks, but once we did, everything skyrocketed.”
Confidence grew steadily, and the team began to believe they could compete for a state qualifying spot. This belief was reflected in two standout meets where Monona Grove shattered the school record, first at the Badger Conference meet, then again at the Waterford Sectional Meet, improving the record by two points on each occasion.
The crowning achievement came at the state meet, where the Silver Eagles finished as state runner-up in their first appearance since 1981 — a monumental accomplishment for the program.
Defining Moments: Overcoming Adversity and Finding Strength
One defining moment came during the Badger Conference meet. The team competed without sophomore all-arounder Kennedy Sefcik on three of her four key events due to an ankle injury. Despite missing a strong scorer, the team delivered its highest score of the season, 137.25, breaking the previous record of 135.35.
“That meeting was a turning point,” Gluch said. “It showed the team that even with mistakes and missing one of our strongest competitors, we could perform at a record-breaking level. The confidence from that experience carried through the rest of the season.”
Emerging Leaders: Growth and Development in Key Athletes
Several athletes made significant strides over the course of the season.
Nola Benson, who had spent the previous year fluctuating between JV and varsity, blossomed into a powerhouse in all events. She upgraded every routine, never backed down from competition, and led the team in all-around scoring. At sectionals, Nola’s 35.9167 points helped secure the team’s silver medal, and she finished 8th at the state individual championship with a personal best score of 36.0833. On beam, she placed 4th in the state with a 9.35 score, marking her second top beam finish of the season.
Sophomore Kennedy Sefcik also made tremendous progress. Competing strongly in the all-around as a freshman, Kennedy elevated her game this year by upgrading every event and embracing routine changes aimed at maximizing her scoring potential. Despite a mild ankle sprain just before the conference meet—where she fell for the first time all season—Kennedy bounced back to score a 9.033 on floor at the state meet. She contributed 35.3 points to the team’s effort and qualified individually on bars, placing 3rd in her sectional.
Their development underscored a larger theme of perseverance and maturity among the younger gymnasts.
Handling Challenges: Injuries and Pressure Tested Team Resolve
The Silver Eagles faced significant adversity with injuries to key athletes. The team competed much of the season without Ella Tweedy, a 2024 third-place state medalist on floor, who was recovering from a back injury.
“Ella’s spot in the all-around was tough to fill, but we had depth,” Gluch noted. Junior Allison Ivanov rose to the occasion, stepping up to contribute strongly whenever called upon. Ella returned for three events late in the season, qualifying individually to state on beam (tied for 5th with teammate Ava Ring) and placing 3rd on floor (tied with Nola Benson). Ella’s grit and competitive spirit were vital for the team’s morale.
Coach Gluch emphasized the team’s mentality in the face of pressure. “I preach that pressure is a privilege,” he said. “Our best scores came in pressure situations because the athletes stayed present and leaned on each other. They competed knowing their teammates had their backs, and that mindset made all the difference.”
Senior Leadership: Setting the Standard on and off the Mat
The two seniors on the team, Savanna Gangstad and Ava Xiong, were foundational leaders throughout the season. “You couldn’t find two people who worked harder in practice than Ava and Savanna,” Gluch shared.
Savanna led as a point contributor in the varsity all-around and brought emotional maturity as a captain. Ava dominated the junior varsity all-around and contributed to the varsity beam scores multiple times. Their dedication to hard work and consistency became the standard for the team, inspiring every gymnast to bring their best every day.
Although they will be missed next season, their legacy lives on in the culture they helped build.
Looking Ahead: Excitement for the Future
Coach Gluch is especially optimistic about the returning athletes, most of whom are sophomores who will become juniors next season.
“Four of the five varsity spots on every event were filled by sophomores this year,” he noted. “They got a taste of what it’s like to be part of a strong team, and they’re hungry for more.”
With their growth and maturity, these athletes are expected to take on larger leadership roles and continue to elevate the program’s competitiveness.
Offseason Focus: Consistency and Leadership Development
Looking forward, Coach Gluch aims to improve the team’s consistency, especially on the uneven bars and vault, which were the team’s weakest events during the season. He sees great potential for stronger performances with focused offseason training.
Additionally, the coach is eager to see the sophomore class from this past season help guide incoming freshmen and underclassmen through their first high school gymnastics experiences, setting them up for success as future Silver Eagles.
Where to Follow the Team
For fans and supporters wanting to follow Monona Grove gymnastics progress, scores, and stats can be found on platforms like Scoreflippers and Insight Pro.
Final Thoughts: A Season of Breakthroughs and Building Blocks
Monona Grove’s 2025 gymnastics season was a testament to teamwork, resilience, and growth. From overcoming injuries to breaking long-standing school records and achieving a state runner-up finish after a 44-year hiatus, the Silver Eagles set a new standard for the program.
With a strong core of returning athletes and a clear focus on continued improvement, the future looks bright for Monona Grove gymnastics under Coach Gluch’s leadership.
 and placing 3rd on floor (tied with Nola Benson). Ella’s grit and competitive spirit were vital for the team’s morale.
Coach Gluch emphasized the team’s mentality in the face of pressure. “I preach that pressure is a privilege,” he said. “Our best scores came in pressure situations because the athletes stayed present and leaned on each other. They competed knowing their teammates had their backs, and that mindset made all the difference.”
Senior Leadership: Setting the Standard on and off the Mat
The two seniors on the team, Savanna Gangstad and Ava Xiong, were foundational leaders throughout the season. “You couldn’t find two people who worked harder in practice than Ava and Savanna,” Gluch shared.
Savanna led as a point contributor in the varsity all-around and brought emotional maturity as a captain. Ava dominated the junior varsity all-around and contributed to the varsity beam scores multiple times. Their dedication to hard work and consistency became the standard for the team, inspiring every gymnast to bring their best every day.
Although they will be missed next season, their legacy lives on in the culture they helped build.
Looking Ahead: Excitement for the Future
Coach Gluch is especially optimistic about the returning athletes, most of whom are sophomores who will become juniors next season.
“Four of the five varsity spots on every event were filled by sophomores this year,” he noted. “They got a taste of what it’s like to be part of a strong team, and they’re hungry for more.”
With their growth and maturity, these athletes are expected to take on larger leadership roles and continue to elevate the program’s competitiveness.
Offseason Focus: Consistency and Leadership Development
Looking forward, Coach Gluch aims to improve the team’s consistency, especially on the uneven bars and vault, which were the team’s weakest events during the season. He sees great potential for stronger performances with focused offseason training.
Additionally, the coach is eager to see the sophomore class from this past season help guide incoming freshmen and underclassmen through their first high school gymnastics experiences, setting them up for success as future Silver Eagles.
Where to Follow the Team
For fans and supporters wanting to follow Monona Grove gymnastics progress, scores, and stats can be found on platforms like Scoreflippers and Insight Pro.
Final Thoughts: A Season of Breakthroughs and Building Blocks
Monona Grove’s 2025 gymnastics season was a testament to teamwork, resilience, and growth. From overcoming injuries to breaking long-standing school records and achieving a state runner-up finish after a 44-year hiatus, the Silver Eagles set a new standard for the program.
With a strong core of returning athletes and a clear focus on continued improvement, the future looks bright for Monona Grove gymnastics under Coach Gluch’s leadership.)
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