Huskies Hope to Stick at State
Stick the landing and you might end up on the podium. Owatonna's trio of gymnasts are off to the individual state gymnastics competition at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul Saturday, February 22. Class AA is at 6 pm. OHS finished second as a team at sections recently, but Owatonna fans will have plenty to watch during the individual meet.
OHS junior Lindsay Bangs has already spent time on the podium receiving medals with her second place finish on the beam and third place showing in all-around in 2019 in addition to previous years. Junior Lucy Macius was an individual qualifier in the past. Both were members of the third place-finishing team in recent years. Seventh-grader Halle Theis is new to the varsity but has gotten over any nerves quickly to reach the elite company of being a state participant.
Bangs was happy with a first place finish in the all-around at sections, "I'd say my floor routine was one of the best of the season, as well as my vault, and bar score was pretty high too...It just feels really good to go back (to state)." Her goal is simply stated and was said with a laugh, "I would really enjoy winning something. It doesn't matter what it is. That would be awesome." Hear the full interview with Lindsay by clicking her name below.
Macius had a great day at sections, "I got a 9.4 on vault so that was my best vault of the year...It was pretty clean. And my beam, I just stayed on the beam and made sure I stuck my dismount." Her 9.425 was good for second place on beam. She finished third on vault. At state, "On beam I'm on a roll of about six sticks in a row. So hopefully keep that going." Click below for more thoughts from Lucy.
Qualifying for state caught Theis a little off guard, "I was surprised because I didn't think I was actually going to make it. Vault is my strongest event, so I was proud of myself...I was really excited. I had a big smile on my face. I just went up there, and was like 'OK' I guess I'm going to state."Her 9.375 was her season high score and has the goal of going higher at state. Hear more from Halle below.
As a team the Huskies finished as section runner-up after a four-year reign as 1AA champions. OHS took third at state for the last three seasons. The Huskies won their fifth straight Big Nine title this season. Northfield won the section crown.