The Hastings Raiders opened their home schedule on December 4 with a steady, early season performance, topping Two Rivers 110.425 to 105.225 at Hastings Middle School. The meet moved at an easy pace, the crowd settling in as the Raiders found their footing from the first rotation on. It was the kind of December dual that lets a team shake out nerves, test new routines, and see where the lineup might grow in the coming weeks.
Vault set the tone. Hastings posted a 32.6, led by Makenna McGraw’s 8.5 and solid supporting scores from Aubrey Strohfus and Elsie Bauer. Nothing flashy, just clean runs and soft landings that kept the Raiders in front.
Bars turned into one of the team’s bright spots. Bauer delivered a strong 7.975, the highest mark of the night on the event, while Strohfus added a steady 5.7. McGraw chipped in a 4.675, enough to keep Hastings ahead of a Two Rivers squad that worked hard to stay close but could not match the Raiders’ depth.
Beam, always a test of patience in early December, provided a few wobbles but also a few highlights. Strohfus led Hastings with a 7.625, and McGraw followed with a 7.075. Ava Klug matched the moment with a clean 7.7 as the Raiders posted a 26.05, holding a narrow edge over the Warriors.
By the time the teams reached floor, Hastings had settled into a comfortable rhythm. McGraw closed her all-around effort with a 7.975, Klug added a 7.7, and Katelynn Qualy scored a smooth 7.95. Chloe Mattson and Morgan Kennedy rounded out the lineup. The group total of 28.675 sealed the meet.
McGraw finished with the top all-around score at 28.225, with Bauer and Strohfus also contributing key multi event totals.
The Raiders will host a triangular on December 10 at 6:00 p.m. at Hastings Middle School. Then they travel to Simley on December 18, also at 6:00 p.m. After that, they settle in for a nice long winter break to rest any bumps and bruises while preparing for North St. Paul on January 8.