MUNCIE — Ever since she came so close to winning a state all-around title as a freshman, Emily Moore has been focused on winning either the all-around or one of the four individual events at the state gymnastics meet.
Saturday afternoon, the Columbus North junior broke through. She won the balance beam with a score of 9.725 in the Gymnastics State Finals at Ball State’s Worthen Arena.
“I’m really happy about it,” Moore said. “It’s a good way to end the season. We practice every day, and I just tried harder to get ready for state.”
Moore, who had finished second on the beam last year, just missed a state title in the all-around competition. She scored a 38.375 to finish .125-point behind Franklin Central freshman Austyn Dykes.
Moore and Dykes were tied for first place in the all-around going into the final event, the floor.
“I like to watch other scores and be under pressure because I feel like I do better like that,” Moore said. “I’m still really happy about it, but maybe next year, I can get first.”
Moore also finished third on both the bars (9.65) and floor (9.525). She was 12th on the vault with a 9.475 and led the Bull Dogs to a sixth-place team finish.
“It was a great day for Emily,” North coach Betsy Warble said. “She has worked extremely hard in the gym these last few weeks and really all season. Her goal has been to bring home a state championship for herself and contribute to the greater team, which she has been the anchor of all season. What a great day for her to see the fruits of her labors. It’s been a very deserving accomplishment for her today.”
Moore is the first North gymnast to win an event at the state meet since Ashley Holiday and Claire Thompson won the vault and beam in 2017.
