WHS GYMNASTICS: Worthington outduels MCA

WORTHINGTON — There is something Worthington gymnastics’ coach Joni Reitmeier has not experienced in her four years coaching the Trojans: a win over Martin County Area.

That all changed Tuesday when the Trojans beat Martin County Area 134.425-128.80. Not only was the 134.425 good enough to put a notch in the win column over MCA for Reitmeier for the first time, but it was also a season-high for the Trojans.

“The meet was fantastic” Reitmeier said. “If we stay consistent and do our gymnastics to the best of our ability, we are right up there with the best of them.

“We just have to keep climbing that mountain.”

Tara Svalland led the way for the Trojans, winning the all-around (35.075) behind a third-place finish on beam (8.475), a second-place finish on floor (8.80) and first-place finishes on the bars (8.40) and the vault (9.40).

“It was a good day,” Svalland said. “I think that’s one of my highest all-around scores.

“Vault and bars were good for me and the beam I fell, but I came back and the floor I had a tumble. It still hasn’t really settled in yet that we beat (MCA), but I’m so proud of us.”

Paige Kinley finished in second place on the all-around (33.625) for the Trojans behind a third-place finish on bars (7.90) and second-place finishes on the beam (8.675) and the vault (8.70).

“I did everything all right except for floor, but it was an overall good day,” Kinley said. “It was exciting (to beat Martin County Area) and to score our highest score of the year and hopefully we can keep going up from here.”

Behind a career-high 8.90 on beam and an 8.85 on floor, Anna Koepsell took home first place in both events.

“I was really excited that I stuck my beam rountine because it was the first time I had done that all season,” Koepsell said. “I’m just glad that we all did good and won.

“It’s really exciting that we keep getting better and better.”

Liz Hayenga finished third on vault (8.65) as well for the Trojans.

Worthington hopes to continue improving, taking on Windom/Mountain Lake Thursday.

“We just have to keep improving and know that we can’t let it go to our head,” Svalland said. “We’re coming together not just as a team, but as a family.”

Svalland’s coach echoed her sentiments.

“Even though there is a few things we have to clean up, all-in-all this is the best meet to date,” Reitmeier said. “Martin County Area has been representing us at the state meet the last three or four years in Section 3A, so to go toe-to-toe with them and get a win is excellent.”

In the junior varsity dual, Worthington fell to MCA 114.55 to 113.25.

Alyssa Williams finished third in the all-around with a 25.50 for the Trojans, while Koepsell tied for second on vault (8.25), Kara Honius finished in second on bars (7.10), Kelsey Simons finished third on the floor exercise (7.30), Hayenga tied for first on the floor exercise (7.50) with Stephanie Jaycox (7.50), who also tied for second on the beam (7.10).

Tags: sports, prep, gymnastics, trojans