The defending state champions had their first meet on Friday Dec. 5. They faced off against the Austin Packers at home. Owatonna won 140.3 : Austin 127.2.
Owatonna’s top two scorers in each event against Austin were strong across the board. On vault, Johanna Spielman led with a 9.275, followed by Dylann Norrid with a 9.1. On bars, Ellie Blum scored an 8.625 and Delia Neumann posted a 9.25. On beam, both Chloe Myer and Delia Neumann earned matching 9.2s. On floor, Kendra Miller scored a 9.025, with Delia Neumann close behind at 9.0.
The Huskies had two all around gymnasts in the first meet. Sophomore Delia Neumann and freshman Ellie Blum. Neumann scored 36.175. Blum scored 32.975.
The team has two senior captains this year, Dylann Norrid and Kendra MIller. Norrid says, “To me, being a captain is being a leader for my teammates, showing up to lead by example, and representing my team as a whole”.
Last year, the Huskies won the State Championship with a combined score of 146.825, marking the school’s first ever Class AA team title.
At the individual State Championship meet last year Neumann took first place on beam as a freshman (now a sophomore), and Chloe Myer placed third as a junior (now a senior).
Neumann says, “Winning a state title has definitely added a lot of pressure. However, it also adds a boost of confidence to know what I can do and push myself even harder to continue doing as good as possible for both my team and myself”.
Kiana Starks, who came through the Owatonna gymnastics program when she was in high school, has stepped up to be the new Head Coach after being the assistant coach for the Huskies for the last five years. Prior to her time coaching in Owatonna, Starks was an assistant high school gymnastics coach in Rochester.
Starks says, “My goals as head coach are to make each of my girls as confident in their gymnastics ability as possible. I hope to help them stay healthy and strong throughout the season so we can stay on top of our game. I want them to strive together as a team to put forth a fighting chance to get back to state and defend our state championship title!”
Come watch and support Owatonna gymnastics at the next home meet on Thursday Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the Owatonna Gymnastics Center.
