Columbus North’s Laney Acton performs on the beam in the Conference Indiana meet at Columbus North, Monday, Feb. 13, 2023. Paige Grider for The Republic
If Columbus North is to break through with a top-four finish that would put the Bull Dogs on the medals podium at today’s Gymnastics State Finals, it likely will be the result of an all-around team performance.
North, which has finished fifth three times and sixth once in the past four state meets, has been led all season by sophomore Reese Euler. But the four or five other Bull Dogs who will compete today have shown improvements throughout the season.
“I think we’ve all worked really hard this entire season and if we do what we’re capable of doing, then we have a chance of getting on the podium,” senior Laney Acton said.
Acton is one of three North gymnasts who compete in all four events, joining Euler and senior Lindsey Mullis.
“I feel like it’s rewarding seeing your scores get to build up, but it also puts pressure on you that you need to hit on every event,” Acton said. “But we’re full of great gymnasts who are capable of a lot of things, so I know that if I don’t hit, somebody else can.”
Acton competed at state last year. Mullis competed on only the bars as a freshman and junior and did the all-around as a sophomore.
Mullis would have done the all-around last year, but a lower-leg injury kept her out of everything but the bars.
“I think all-around, I’m pretty experienced because I’ve done all-around at state,” Mullis said. “This year, I’ve worked hard, and I think I can hit 4 for 4.”
Columbus North’s Ellie McIntier competes on the bars in the Conference Indiana meet at Columbus North, Monday, Feb. 13, 2023. Paige Grider for The Republic
Meanwhile, the fourth spot on the events have been split by a pair of freshmen. Ellie McIntier has been doing the vault and bars, and Hannah Perry has competed on the beam and floor.
“I think that the hard work has paid off,” McIntier said. “Our scores have just been climbing since the start of the year. A lot of us have been getting new skills these past few weeks that we’re ready to put in for state.”
Columbus North’s Hannah Perry competes on the beam in the Conference Indiana meet at Columbus North, Monday, Feb. 13, 2023. Paige Grider for The Republic
Perry also did the vault early in the season, but injured an elbow that kept her out of action until near the end of the regular season.
“I missed a bunch of meets, but coming back, it feels rewarding helping my team out at sectional and regional competing two events,” Perry said. “It’s definitely rewarding seeing that I came back so quick, and I’m hoping I can help my team even more.”
“It’s awesome to see some freshmen coming in and having some of that depth that we need to add to our routines, and just waiting to see where they’re going to grow in the next couple of years will be super exciting for us,” North co-coach Kaitlyn Rediker added.
Columbus North’s Marieme Niang competes on the vault in the Conference Indiana meet at Columbus North, Monday, Feb. 13, 2023. Paige Grider for The Republic
Meanwhile, senior Miriame Niang competed at state last year, but has been an alternate this postseason. Niang is capable of filling in on two or three events.
“I feel like it’s not as bad just because I know what I can do, and I’ve still been working just as hard as all the other girls in practice, making sure to hit my routines and work my newer skills so that if I do get put in, I’m ready,” Niang said. “So it’s nice to have a little bit less weight on my shoulders going in, but I know that if I get called, I can perform.”
Teams can use four gymnasts on each of the four events, and the top three scores on each event count toward the team total.
“We made the decision as we had to pare down from six to five to four to specialize some of the girls and pull them off of a couple pieces of equipment to have them better prepared for sectional, regional and state,” North co-coach Bob Arthur said.
Euler finished fifth on the bars, tied for fifth on the beam and earned a third medal with a sixth-place finish in the all-around at last year’s state meet. She hopes to contend for state titles in those events, as well as the vault and floor, today.
“At the end of the day, it’s just like a normal meet,” Euler said. “Yes, it is state, and it’s the last meet, but just treat it like any other meet and do what you know how to do.”
The goal for the team is to end up on the podium with a top-four finish.
“The top three team have high scores, but the fourth spot, a lot of teams are able to podium,” Mullis said. “It’s just who hits the best on Saturday. If we hit 4 for 4, we have a pretty good chance of getting on the podium.”
