Sixth Time is Still A Charm; Huskies Gymnasts Win Big 9
The Owatonna High School gymnastics team captured their sixth straight Big Nine Conference title Saturday. However, the celebration was unlike any of the previous five. Mainly, because they had to wait hours for all the other pods to complete their competition.
The Huskies were part of the first group of four teams, those who had performed best during the regular season. OHS had not lost a dual meet and their score Saturday left little doubt that they would prevail. But it isn't over until it's over. So, the Huskies went home with a solid lead atop the scoreboard and waited.
OHS scored a season-high 147.025 and won three of the four events in the final tabulation. They won the vault (37.2), bars (35.3) and beam (37.275) and finished second on the floor exercise (37.250) to Mankato West (37.850). The Huskies also had three of the top five all-around performers.
Big Nine top three teams:
- Owatonna, 147.025
- Mankato West, 144.8
- Northfield, 139.375
Top five all-around scores
- Adison Dick, Northfield, 37.825
- Jenna Sikel, Mankato West, 37.5
- Lucy Macius, Owatonna, 37.225
- Lindsay Bangs, Owatonna, 37.05
- Halle Theis, Owatonna, 36.450
The Huskies had scored a previous season high in Winona a week earlier, but coach Evan Moe felt "even though we threw a season high and by all standards was a good, good meet, it felt like we left a lot on the table (at Winona). Definitely good news because we haven't capped or peaked. Definitely looking to improve on that score." (Which they did.)
Owatonna has won every Big Nine title since 2016. OHS had their run of four straight section titles snapped by Northfield in 2020. The Huskies finished third at state for three straight seasons, 2017 through 2019. Sections are Saturday, March 20.
The Huskies are in the evening session for the Section 1AA meet at Northfield in a pod with Rosemount, Farmington and the host Raiders.
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