Winona gymnastics upsets Byron to clinch first section title since 2023

Winona/Winona Cotter takes home the Section 1, Class 1A gymnastics title, ending Byron's two-year reign.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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For the first time since 2023, Section 1, Class 1A has crowned a new gymnastics champion. Winona/Winona Cotter took home the title after it edged out two-time defending section champion Byron by 0.7 points, winning with a score of 141.375 on Saturday morning in Caledonia.

Why it matters

Gymnastics is a popular high school sport in Minnesota, and Section 1, Class 1A has been dominated by Byron in recent years. Winona/Winona Cotter's upset victory ends Byron's two-year reign as section champions and marks a significant achievement for the Winhawks program.

The details

Winona/Winona Cotter defeated Byron with a final score of 141.375, 0.7 points higher than the two-time defending champions. The Winhawks put together a strong overall performance to dethrone Byron and claim their first section title since 2023.

  • The competition took place on Saturday, February 16, 2026 in Caledonia, Minnesota.

The players

Winona/Winona Cotter

The high school gymnastics team that won the Section 1, Class 1A title, ending Byron's two-year reign as champions.

Byron

The two-time defending Section 1, Class 1A gymnastics champions who were upset by Winona/Winona Cotter.

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What’s next

Winona/Winona Cotter will now advance to the state gymnastics tournament, where they will look to continue their strong season and compete for a state championship.

The takeaway

Winona/Winona Cotter's upset victory over the two-time defending champions Byron demonstrates the program's growth and ability to compete at the highest level in Section 1, Class 1A gymnastics.