Gymnastics: Tigers bow to No. 1 Northfield

Kylie Wharton 2nd on uneven bars (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Defending state Class AA champion Northfield won the battle of the scorebook but Tiger coach Lynn Bauman said she saw some bright spots in her team's 147.22-137.25 dual meet loss to the Raiders Tuesday night at the District Service Center.

"Considering we were up against the No. 1 team in the state, we didn't let them dominate us individually," Bauman said. "The girls had a much better night on beam. I was really proud of our beam performance as a team."

The talent-rich Raiders placed first in all four individual events but the Tigers did record three second place finishes, including Tahra Eeckert in vault (9.25); Kylie Wharton on the uneven bars (9.0) and Kiana Lord in floor exercise (9.325).

Lord also took third in vault (9.1) and fifth on bars (8.45) and her all-around total of 35.175 ranked fourth.

Kathryn Beckett finished fifth in vault (9.05) and Rachel Kiminski placed fifth on the balance beam (8.6).

Northfield edged Farmington 127.85-1216.25 in the junior varsity meet. Farmington's Taylor Schmaltz won the floor exercise competition and the Tigers placed second in three events. Elizabeth Welter and Kendall Novak (tie) in vault; Kiminski on bars and Racquel Beckett on beam.

Friday the Tigers travel to New Prague to take on the Trojans, another state-rated team.