The Worthington High School gymnastics team has been so consistent this season, that to the regular fan it may seem easy putting up 142-plus points meet after meet.
But it’s not automatic. It’s only because of their dedication and team spirit that the Trojans can stay on top of their game, said head coach Joni Reitmeier on Thursday. The team has withstood injuries and other issues that have depleted their lineup this winter, but they keep going, going, going like the Energizer bunny.
“My girls, they really are battlers. We’ve had a lot of adversity with different things happening. But I can tell you, this team is a true team,” said WHS head coach Joni Reitmeier after her squad outscored visiting Luverne 142.050 to 126.075 on Parents Night.
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It was another fine day for senior Maria Contreras, who won three events, placed third in another, and finished with a first-place 36.325 score in the all-around. The diminutive dynamo won the vault with a 9.45 score, and took the uneven parallel bars in 8.825 and the floor exercise in 9.425. She scored an 8.625 on the balance beam for third place.
Teammate Abby Bristow won the beam competition with a 9.150. Just an eighth-grader, Bristow also got a second on the floor (9.275).
Sophomore Kara Thuringer scored a third-place 9.1 on vault, a third-place 8.2 on bars, a third-place 9.2 on floor, and a second-place 8.8 on beam. She was second in the all-around with 35.3.
Trojan freshman Gracia Elias earned seconds on the vault (9.175) and bars (8.6), finished fourth on beam (8.425 and floor (8.95) and was third in the all-around with 35.15. Mekyla Nystrom, an eighth-grader, was fourth on the bars (8.1).
“The vaults were extremely good today,” said Reitmeier. “We had beautiful floor routines, which we’re known for. We also had some good beam routines.”
Luverne got a fourth-place 8.9 from 10th-grader Meghan Witte on the vault. She was fourth in the all-around with a 32.750 tally.
Next up for Worthington is the state True Team meet on Saturday, at Detroit Lakes.
“We’re super excited to go back. I think this is the fourth year in a row, and we’re happy to represent Worthington,” said Reitmeier. “We’re excited to see those other great teams that are going to be there. But it’s going to be a long way to travel.”
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In junior varsity competition on Thursday, Worthington scored 132.55 points to Luverne’s 113.350. Firsts were turned in by Trojans Adamari Rangel on vault (8.7), Claire Ludes on bars (8.25), and Marlena Garza on beam (8.65) and floor (8.8). Ludes won the all-around with a 32.9 score.
