Huskies win Farmington MGJA Invitational

Owatonna gymnastics continues to shine this season and did so last week while also battling some adversity to win the Farmington MGJA Invitational.

The Huskies scored 143.350 points to edge out section rival Lakeville South by 2.250 points, and take the title in a 15-team field.

Adding to the team’s impressive win was the fact that it was without two senior captains Averie Roush and Jozie Johnson, as well as usual starter Kendra Miller.
“We didn’ talk about it after the meet, but it will definitely be something we talk about at practice. Being able to win meets in so many different ways with different routines and athletes as needed, it’s how we coach and it’s how we ask our girls to compete. That way we aren’y pigeon-toed into having to compete with a certain lineup on any given night,” said Owatonna Head Coach Evan Moe.

Roush was held out due to having surgery done to remove bone fragments from her foot and could be seen wearing a walking boot.

Johnson was not able to compete after concussion symptoms stemming from a floor-exercise fall began to give her troubles in school and in training.

Miller was held out due to illness.

With two valuable athletes forced to watch on from the sidelines, Owatonna turned to some of its depth to make a difference; the decision paid off.

The Huskies kicked off the day on the bars where the team scored 34.200 points.

Leading the way for the team was freshman Delia Neumann with a 9.150-point performance to place fourth out of all gymnasts.

Neumann continued her string of impressive performances by taking second on the beam in the team’s next event.

The freshman scored a 9.500 and was followed closely by teammate Halle Theis at 9.300.

In total, Owatonna scored 36.600 points on the bar to take the lead and build on its momentum.

Up next for the Huskies was the floor exercise event where Owatonna was led in scoring by eighth-grader Ava Maves with a 9.450.

Maves’ score earned her fourth place overall and helped lead the Huskies to a 35.900-point event and helped maintain the lead through three events.

Owatonna closed out the meet on the vault where Theis and teammate Johanna Spielman threw up two stellar performances with scores of 9.450 and 9.350 respectively.

The two massive routines were followed by a 9.000 by Dylann Norrid and an 8.850 from Maves to end the meet on a 36.650-point high note.

Owatonna’s next meet will be on the road at Lakeville North on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 12 p.m.