Byron gymnasts tumble past Caledonia
On Thursday, December 7, the Byron girls gymnastics team tumbled their way to a win over visiting Caledonia, with a new season high score of 139.175 to 124.325. The girls put together a solid overall performance, with one highlight being all five girls staying on beam.
The girls got their night started on vault with some very strong scores. Lydia Evans led the way with a very nice vault, scoring a 9.3 to take first. Sydney Portner followed up in second with a strong vault of her own and a score of 9.225. Teammates Norah Brown and Ella Ott made a clean sweep of the top four spots, with Norah landing a nice vault, scoring an 8.9 and Ella finishing fourth with a strong vault of 8.625.
The girls moved on to bars next, where they swept the top four spots once again. Sydney Portner led the team with an 8.425, and teammate Lydia Evans was close behind with a score of 8.4. Olivia O’Brien and Jocie Halfman took the next two spots with scores of 7.95 and 7.925. Up next for the girls was the beam. All five girls stayed on and got an opportunity to share the “beam queen” crown. Sydney Portner put together a very nice routine, taking first with a score of 9.35. Lydia Evans had a solid routine, taking second with a score of 8.6. Olivia O’Brien and Ella Ott rounded out the top four scores for the team, with Olivia finishing tied for third with a score of 8.25 and Ella fourth with a score of 8.125. Jocie Halfman rounded out the squad in fifth with a score of 7.95.
The girls finished the night on the floor with a little party of their own…they swept the top five places. Sydney led the way once again, scoring a very nice tally of 9.325. Lydia had a nice routine once again and scored a 9.05. Olivia O’Brien and Norah Brown finished with strong routines, scoring 8.875 and 8.85 respectively. Savannah Byron rounded out the group with a best new score of 8.825. In the all-around scoring the girls took the top three spots. Sydney Portner scored a new best with 36.325 to take first. Lydia Evans put together a nice night, finishing second with a score of 35.35 and Olivia O’Brien took third with an all-round score of 33.475.
The girls are back in action, at home on Thursday, December 14, and then again that Saturday at the Winona Invite.
K-M/Triton gymnasts at Prior Lake Invitational
PRIOR LAKE — The Kasson-Mantorville/Triton gymnastics team performed in the Prior Lake Invite, on Saturday, December 9, at Twin Oaks Middle School. Participating schools included teams from Chanhassen, Eastview, Farmington, Lakeville South, New Prague, Rosemount, Kasson-Mantorville/Triton, and Prior Lake.
“The girls had a really good meet. After one of our Varsity all — around gymnasts had to go home sick, Ellie Hruska (8th), stepped up to take her place. Ellie earned a season and career high on vault, bars, and beam. Kembia Nelson (8th), also stepped up to help fill in for an injured Varsity gymnast on floor, where she also earned a season and career high score. As a team, we scored a 125.05,” explained Head Coach Holly Olmscheid.
On the JV side, Jovie Arnold (7th) stepped up to compete all — around, after some rearranging of the line ups. Her scores earned her 4th place in the all — around. Senior Bella Huerta wasn’t too far behind, scoring 5th in the all — around. Natalie Frederick (7th) and Kendra Hairsine (7th) also made their debuts on the K-M/T team, on bars and floor, respectively.