Columbus North’s Reese Euler competes in the floor exercise during the Gymnastics State Finals at Worthen Arena in Muncie, Ind., Saturday, March 12, 2022.
The Republic file photo
It’s a new era in Columbus North gymnastics: The Post-Moore Era.
Emily Moore, who led the Bull Dogs the past four years and capped her career by winning state titles on the beam, floor and all-around competition, has graduated. But North co-coaches Bob Arthur and Kaitlyn Rediker think improving on last year’s fifth-place state team finish is a possibility.
“We’ve missed out on a podium finish at state for four years, and we’re looking to end that drought,” Arthur said.
“I think it’s a realistic goal to possibly podium at state this year, as long as injuries don’t happen and the girls keep working hard,” Rediker added.
The Bull Dogs return their a state medal winner in sophomore Reese Euler. Euler finished fifth on the bars, tied for fifth on the beam and placed sixth at state in the all-around.
North also welcomes back senior Lindsey Mullis, who missed most of last season with an injury before returning to compete on the bars in the postseason.
“Reese has stepped up this year, and Lindsey has showed some pretty good skills on bars and beam,” Rediker said. “I think it will be a little tough this year, but I can see some of our girls this year stepping up and having more 9s (on an event) than just one, so being a little more consistent in our scoring.”
Junior Laney Acton and senior Marieme Niang also competed at state for the Bull Dogs last season, and sophomore Arwyn Tian did the beam in the regional meet. Freshman Hannah Perry and sophomore newcomer Braden Bostic could make an immediate impact.
Also looking to contribute will be freshmen Jaedyn Ackerman, Ellie McIntier and Evey Richards.
“They’re working hard,” Arthur said. “I think with the girls we have returning and the experience that we have, we’re going to be in fine shape. We still have some growing to do. I think our top two scores will be solid, and we’re going to have to improve on those third, fourth and fifth scores to become a highly-competitive team. But I do think the girls are capable of meeting the challenge, too.”
Arthur and Rediker are pleased with the way the returning gymnasts have progressed since last season.
“The offseason went really well,” Rediker said. “We worked on getting some new skills from last year and then taking their skills from last year and seeing where we could make minor changes for this year.”
North opens its season Wednesday at Franklin Central, then hosts Columbus East on Jan. 9.
“You’re never as prepared at the beginning of the season as you want to be at the end,” Arthur said. “You get better as you go along and you peak at the end. But they’re practicing full routines right now. I told the girls at least you know now, if you had to compete a meet, you could do it.”
