Trojans gym team puts up 140.85 in first home meet of the season

Dec. 13—WORTHINGTON — The Worthington Trojans gymnastics team scored 140.85 in their first home meet on Tuesday against Martin County Area. It is the highest score the Trojans have achieved in the early goings of the winter season.

Martin County Area varsity scored 132.625.

After the Trojans junior varsity team scored 125.25, the Trojans varsity squad started their meet on the parallel bars. Competing for the Trojans on the bars were Hali Bullerman, Olivia Barber, Addison Gerber, Brooklyn Dykstra and Claire Meyer.

Bullerman paced the Trojans in scoring, as she performed her traditional routine of a giant, in which she rotates around the top bar completely at full extension. Bullerman scored 9.0 and teammates Barber scored 8.375, Dykstra scored 8.1 and Gerber scored 7.95.

The second event for the Troajns was the vault, an event which they have historically a lot of confidence in.

But one Trojan in need of a confidence boost was the senior Gerber. She has worked on the Tsuk skill, a mainstay of many Trojan gymnasts on the vault, and had been so far unsuccessful in sticking the landing.

That was until she performed one in front of the Worthington home crowd. On Gerber's first scoring attempt on the vault she stuck the landing which enraptured a large cheer from teammates and coaches.

"This is her first year competing Tsuks. She has practiced them several times, but we just haven't had the confidence to throw it and (with it being her) senior year, you know her and I had some long talks about it, and I really thought it was doable for her," said Trojans head coach Joni Reitmeier. "Today was successful in the fact that she put it to her feet for the first time ever. That just builds confidence and shows her that she is able to do it. Each time now hopefully, we improve and get better and better with that."

Pacing the Trojans again on the vault was Bullerman who scored 9.5, Gerber scored 9.075, Barber scored 8.975 and Dykstra scored 8.825.

The Trojans balance beam routine brought a team score of 34.8 and Reitmeier said she saw some improvement from earlier meets, but that she also wanted her gymnasts to continue pacing themselves on making progress in their routines as the season progresses.

"Some success today with that (and) that's awesome," said Reitmeier. "Lots of room for improvement, but our score improved. So that's all I can really ask. A couple little things we got to clean up, but you know what, we don't want to peak right now. We want to keep climbing."

The Trojans trio of seniors paced the team on the beam. Gerber led all scorers with a 9.0, Bullerman scored 8.7 and Baber scored 8.6. Also scoring for the Trojans was Dykstra, who competed in all four varsity events for the Trojans.

"Brooklyn and I, we've kind of battled a little bit. She is a super talent, and has been since she's been itty-bitty, but lacks a little bit of confidence. I will tell you that this is probably the best meet she has had," said Reitmeier. "I am so proud of her. I hope that this gives her more confidence and understanding that she does belong on the varsity, and that she can compete with the best. Obviously there's some things we need to work on. But all in all, she had a really good meet, and I'm super proud of her, very excited for her future. She's a true talent."

The final event of the evening for the Trojans was the floor exercise. The top scorer was Bullerman, whose performance highlighted a tumbling 'Double Back' which Reitmeier said only two other Worthington gymnasts have ever done in her memory.

"She's thrown them in the other competitions. We haven't been successful, and the landing today she nailed it." said Reitmeier. "... I mean, it's a super big trick, (and) you don't just have anybody throw that trick. They have to be confident, and you as a coach have to be super confident that they're going to be safe. Hali has been working for numerous years getting that trick to the floor. So I can't be more proud of her."

Winning the all-around was Bullerman with a score of 36.375. In second place was Martin County Area's Hannah Cole with 35.9, Barber was third with 35.125, Gerber scored 34.925 and Dyskta was fifth with 34.425.

The Trojans' next meet will be in Worthington Friday at 6 p.m. against Windom.