WORTHINGTON – Coach Joni Reitmeier says she and her gymnasts don’t talk much about trying to set new team scores.
“For the most part, we talk about just trying to hit routines. It’s really about having fun and being consistent and adhering to all our routines. But usually we are just a little bit away at one event. ”
Tim Middagh / Globen
Reitmeier admitted that her Worthington Trojan horses were not perfect in their 144,175 to 121,100 victory over visiting Marshall Thursday night, but they were about as close to it as they had come yet in the 2021-22 campaign. The 144,175 was their highest team score this season.
And it’s coming at a good time. On Saturday (January 22), the Trojan tumblers compete in the Class A True Team competition in Melrose, and it is an event that is being circulated in every high school calendar. Worthington will face nine of the other top 10 Class A teams in the state.
Tim Middagh / Globen
“It will really show you where you are among the best,” Reitmeier said.
On Thursday, Trojan horses found themselves in a very good place. They started on the uneven parallel bars, where senior Mekyla Nystrom showed her athletics to a first place finish of 8,850, and second place Hali Bullerman attacked it in a free-swinging, seemingly effortless performance to a second place finish of 8.8.
They also placed well at their second event, the Volt. Bullerman won with a 9.375, Nysrom was second with 9.350, Kelsey Soleta was third with 9.2, Kenadie Thiner fourth with 9.125 and Addison Gerber fifth with 8.9.
Next, WHS competitors had three falls on the balance sheet, but Bullerman and Olivia Barber had none. The routines were otherwise sharp. Bullerman was first with a 9.4. Barber finished second with 9,025, followed by Abigail Bristow (9.0), Nystrom (8.4) and Gerber (7,850).
Tim Middagh / Globen
Trojans always love to show off their personalities on the floor, and they never waste an opportunity. They came through again Thursday in their last event, where Bullerman scored 9,450, Nystrom 9,325 and Barber, Gerber and Bristow 9,250 each.
“If you’re out there and having fun, the people who see you have fun. And I think the judges enjoy watching you do something you look like you enjoy,” Reitmeier said.
Bullerman scored a very solid 37,025 in all-around, while Nystrom came second with 35,925. Marshall’s Cameen McFarquhar finished third with 33,075.
Reitmeier, who never allowed herself to be fully satisfied, came as close to what she usually gets when looking at the 144,175 score.
“I think we still have a little improvement to do on the balance sheet, but really consistent on all the events,” she summed up.
Worthington was equally impressive in the junior college event, scoring 132.2 points to Marshall’s 92,850. Bristow won the bars (7.65) and the vault (8.95), Soleta won the floor (9.1) and Mia Nixon won the bar (8.4), while she got an all-around score in first place of 32.65 .
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