Injuries aside, gym season still a success

Amanda Davenport All-Missota Conference (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Other than a couple of injuries to key performers, the Tigers' 2013-14 gymnastics season was another successful one.

The girls didn't quite reach their team goal of 140 points but improved steadily as the season progressed and showed great promise for the future. They started the year with a team mark of 123.8 that improved to 138.25 by the end of the season.

The Tigers finished fourth at the Missota Conference Championships and ranked fifth at the Section 1AA finals.

Perhaps the biggest highlight of the season just completed came after the competitive season had been completed. First, the team earned Section 1AA academic honors and later it was named state academic champions by virtue of its almost perfect 3.995 (on a 4.00 scale) grade-point-average.

"We are a young and building team," Tiger coach Lynn Bauman said. "The girls were positive and worked very hard."

About the only negative to take away from the season was a spate of injuries, the most critical coming early in the year when all-state performer Kylie Wharton was lost after suffering an ACL injury.

"It was also tough moving back to Section 1AA," Bauman said. "We're now in the toughest section in the state."

Tahra Eckert all-state in vault

Bauman and her staff awarded varsity letters to 13 individuals for their efforts during the 2013-14 season with Tahra Eckert and Kathryn Beckett the only seniors among them.

"It will definitely be different not having Tahra and Kathryn in the gym next year," Bauman said. "They will be missed by everyone."

The other 11 monogram winners are all underclassmen, including Abby Schwartz, Sam Kramer, Amanda Ruth, Gina Mercurio, Racquel Beckett, Rachel Kiminski, Ashley Ellefson, Kyla Bauman, Mackenzie McCuddin, Amanda Davenport and Sidney Comes.

Davenport had an outstanding season, posting team-high scores in vault, bars and all-around and landing a spot on the prestigious all-Missota Conference team.
Eckert, who earned all-state recognition based on her vault scores, received all-conference honorable mention.

Davenport (four events and all-around); Kathryn Beckett (two events); Schwartz (two events), Kiminski (two events) and Racquel Beckett (one event) each received all-state honorable mention for their scores.

The Tiger coaches also announced several other awards at the team's post-season banquet, including
Hardest Workers: McCuddin, Davenport, Kiminski and Kramer      

Most Improved: Samanatha Maynard                                

Most Positive Spirit: Kramer                     

Best Form: Schwartz                                  

Best Crash Award: Davenport                      

Tiger Award (Most Team Spirit): K. Beckett
Captains for 2014-2015: Wharton and McCuddin
Top individual scores in each event: Vault, Davenport 9.425; Uneven Bars, Davenport, 9.0; Balance Beam, Wharton 9.35; Floor Exercise, Wharton 9.25 and All-Around, Davenport 35.725.
 
With 11 of 13 letterwinners returning and a healthy Wharton back in the lineup, Bauman said she is looking forward to the 2014-15 season. She cautioned, however, that the move to the South Suburban Conference will mean a new level of challenge.

"We are looking forward to competing there," she said of the impending move, "but there will be even more competition for our team...We have the talent. We need to work on our consistency and our maturity."

Almost-perfect Tigers Academic State Champs

2014 State Academic Champions

Not only is the Tiger gymnastics team talented in its sport it is also on the beam when it comes to work in the classroom.

At the Section 1AA Championships the Tigers learned they had earned the honor of section academic champions.

Two weeks later coach Lynn Bauman received the news that her team had won the Class AA state academic title.

The honor is based on the cumulative grade point average of 60 percent of the varsity participants on the team. The Tigers' numbers averaged out to an incredible 3.995 on a perfect 4.000 scale. Brainerd took second with a 3.987 mark and Stillwater ranked third at 3.910.

The girls were to have been honored at the state banquet scheduled for February 20, but were unable to attend due to inclement weather conditions.

"We have won the section academic award before but never the state title," Bauman said."These girls put a lot of hours in the gym practicing and are still able to take advanced classes and the like...It is a huge deal to be state champions."

The girls received a commemorative banner for their section title and a plaque for the state honor.

Gymnastics: Tigers Section 1AA Academic Champs

Section 1AA Academic Champions

 

Top-rated Northfield got by Winona for the Section 1AA gymnastics championship held Friday night at Rochester Century but Farmington didn't come home empty-handed.

The Tigers learned they had been crowned as the Section 1AA academic champions. The award goes to the section team that has the highest average grade point among varsity team members. Farmington registered a remarkable 3.995 average (on a 4.0 scale).

The team will receive a commemorative banner to be presented at a banquet held in conjunction with next week's State Class AA Championships.

In the actual meet, Northfield out-pointed Winona 149.5-147.6 to repeat as section champion. Owatonna took third at 142.275, followed by Rochester Century 140.275, Farmington 137.6, Faribault 137.0, Rochester Mayo 129.5 and Rochester John Marshall 125.0.

The Tigers' score fell 2.4 points below the season-long goal of 140, but coach Lynn Bauman said she was satisfied with her team's performance at the final meet of the year.

"Once again we are back in the hardest section in the state," she said. "The girls had a good meet. We would have liked to end on a higher note, but it was good."

The Tigers didn't qualify anyone for the state meet, but they were not alone. Of the nine section qualifiers, seven came from either champion Northfield or runner-up Winona.

Amanda Davenport scored the highest individual place for the Tigers, finishing ninth in floor exercise with a 9.325 mark.

Gina Mercurio took tenth place on the balance beam with a score of 8.85.

Tahra Eckert turned in the highest Farmington score in vault with a 9.275. Davenport led on the uneven bars with a mark of 8.3.

 

Gymnastics: Tigers 4th in Missota

For one of the few times this season the Farmington saw its team point total take a downward turn.

The Tigers had been posting scores in the 136-138 range for the past couple of weeks but saw that number dip to 135.925 at the Missota Conference Championships held Friday night in Chanhassen.

No. 1 ranked Northfield (AA) defended its title with a score of 150.475. New Prague ranked second at 148.5, followed by Chaska/Chanhassen 136.25, Farmington and Red Wing 125.45.
The Tigers placed third in the conference last season.

Coach Lynn Bauman said one event, the balance beam, was the main culprit in the point drop.

"Vault started out in range and bars were where we usually are," she said, "although we have room to be higher. Floor (exercise) was OK, too. But beam...we can't seem to stay on."

Amanda Davenport provided the top Tiger performances of the meet, finishing seventh in both floor (9.2) and all-around (34.125).

Rachel Kiminski ranked ninth on beam (9.0) as did Tahra Eckert in vault (9.25) and Abby Schwartz on bars (8.375).

Davenport placed 10th in vault (9.225) and Kathryn Beckett took 10th in floor exercise (8.95).

"We have so much talent on our team," Bauman said. "I am looking forward to the section meet to see it come together."

Friday the girls travel to Rochester Century for the Section 1AA Championships. The trip will mark the Tigers' return to Section 1; they have competed in Section 3AA the past several seasons.

Gymnastics: Saving the best for last

Tahra Eckert second in vault

The Tigers recorded their highest team score of the year in their final meet of the regular season, a 146.925-138.25 Missota Conference loss to New Prague Friday night at the District Service Center.

"What a great last home meet," coach Lynn Bauman said. "The girls are really steppin' up...Once again beam was our weak point. We lost three points in falls. We stay on, we go over 140.  I know we can do it and we will."

The Trojans finished first in all of the events but several Tigers turned in impressive performances.

Tahra Eckert took second in vault and tied teammate Amanda Davenport for third in all-around to pace the Tiger effort. Davenport also placed third in vault and  fourth in floor exercise.

Abby Schwartz finished fifth on the uneven bars and Rachel Kiminski checked in at fifth place in floor exercise. 

New Prague won the junior varsity meet 130.45-125.4 with the Tigers scoring three first place finishes: Kiminski in vault; Gina Mercurio in floor exercise and Sidney Comes in all-around. Kenzie McCudden took the runner-up spot on the balance beam.

Friday the girls head to Chanhassen for the Missota Conference Championships. The following Friday they travel to Rochester Century for the Section 1AA meet.

 

 

 

Gymnastics: A split at Northfield

Abby Schwartz had three 1st place finishes vs. Red Wing (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The Tigers split a pair of dual meets at a three-team Missota Conference get-together Tuesday night at Northfield.

No. 1 rated Northfield easily won the meet with 150.525 points. Farmington finished at 134.125 and Red Wing 123.7.

"Our girls hadn't practiced since Thursday due to school closings," coach Lynn Bauman said. "That being said, I think they did pretty well. Abby Schwartz stuck another beam routine and that is always a good feeling. I'm looking forward to other girls doing that also."

When the results were stacked up against each other the Tigers dominated the place sheet in the competition with Red Wing, taking first in all four events and the all-around.

Schwartz led the Farmington effort with three first place finishes. She won the balance beam (8.65) and floor exercise (8.425) events outright and tied teammate Amanda Davenport for honors on the uneven bars with an 8.3 mark.

Tahra Eckert topped the stat sheet in vaulting with a 9.225 mark and Davenport forged a first place in all-around with a 33.725 score. Davenport also took second on beam and third in floor exercise.

Rachel Kiminski placed in three events: third on bars and fourth in beam and vault. Eckert and Kathryn Beckett placed second and fourth respectively in floor exercise.

Places were harder to come by against Northfield with Davenport topping the Tiger charts with a fourth place effort in all-around.

Farmington entries finished fifth in four other events: Schwartz, beam and floor; Davenport, bars and Eckert, vaulting.

The Tiger junior varsity also beat Red Wing and lost by a scant .05 of a point to Northfield.

In the Red Wing match-up, Sam Kramer (vault), Sidney Comes (bars), Gina Mercurio (beam) and Kiminski (floor) all won individual events. Ashley Ellefson claimed the all-around title. Comes and Kiminski each won first place honors in their respective events against Northfield.

The JV was coming off a big win in a four-team meet held last Saturday at Cottage Grove. Farmington won the meet with a score of 130.70. Roseville was second at 128.80, followed by Park of Cottage Grove 126.95 and Lakeville South 126.90.

Gymnastics: Tigers down Wingers

Rachel Kiminski

Amanda Davenport won three events and the all-around and the Tigers bumped their season-best team score up a fraction of a point in a 137.75-126.35 Missota Conference dual meet at the District Service Center.

Davenport won the vault (9.45), floor exercise (8.975) and all-around (34.875) and tied teammate Abby Schwartz for the top spot on the uneven bars (8.1).

Rachel Kiminski made it a clean sweep in the individual events with a first place finish on the balance beam with a score of 8.95.

Schwartz added two more second place performances in floor exercise and balance beam. Tahra Eckert also garnered a pair of second place finishes for the winners, placing runner-up in vaulting and all-around.

Kiminski took third place on the uneven bars and Kathryn Beckett ranked third in floor exercise.

Three other Farmington entrants finished fourth in individual events, including Davenport on the beam; Kathryn Beckett in floor exercise and Gina Mercurio in vault.

"Overall the team looks cleaner and a lot more consistent," coach Lynn Bauman said. "Beam was greatly improved and vault went great as well.

"The girls are working very hard towards that 140 and I know we will get there very soon."

Farmington also won the junior varsity meet123.7-106.65. Four Tigers finished first: Kiminski in vault; Mercurio in floor exercise; Sam Kramer on the balance beam and Sidney Comes in all-around.

Tuesday the Tigers travel to Northfield for a triangular meet with the Raiders and Red Wing.

Gymnastics: A most narrow victory

Amanda Davenport

Farmington and Chaska/Chanhassen have had some hotly contested meets over the past couple of seasons but Friday night's 137.375-1375.25 Tiger win at Chanhassen may have set a new standard for closeness.

The Tigers finished first in three events and all-around to squeeze by the Stormhawks by a razor-thin one-eighth of a point.

"What a close meet!," Tiger coach Lynn Bauman said. "We are getting much steadier. Now it's crunch time. Time to keep it clean and, of course, "stick it."

Farmington's team point total was its highest of the 2013-14 season, a fraction higher than its 137.35 mark set two weeks ago at the Farmington Invitational.

Amanda Davenport had a big night for the winners at Chanhassen, capturing first place in vaulting (9.25), uneven bars (8.7) and all-around (35.725). Davenport also tied for second with teammate Rachel Kiminski on the beam with a score of 8.65.

Abby Schwartz provided the other Farmington first of the night with a win on the balance beam with an 8.7 mark.

Tahra Eckert also had a good night for the winners, taking third in both vault and all-around and ranking fifth in floor exercise.

Gina Mercurio finished fourth in vault and Schwartz placed fifth on the uneven bars.

The Tigers will be looking to move closer to the 140-point mark next Friday when they host Red Wing in a Missota Conference dual meet at the District Service Center.
 

Gymnastics: Making progress

Amanda Davenport 2nd on the uneven bars (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The Tigers continued to make progress to their season goal Tuesday night in a 145.20-136.475 Missota Conference dual meet loss at New Prague.

"All in all, it was a good meet," Farmington coach Lynn Bauman said. "We definitely are making our masterpiece. We just need a few more finishing touches. I believe our team has the ability to hit the 140 mark by the end of the season."

Farmington performers turned in four third place efforts at the meet with Amanda Davenport accounting for two of them, on the uneven bars and in all-around. Kathryn Beckett placed third on floor exercise and Tahra Eckert ranked third in vault.

Davenport took fourth on beam and and Eckert placed fourth in the all-around competition. The Tigers placed fifth in three other events: Davenport in vault and floor exercise and Rachel Kiminski on the balance beam.

New Prague also won the junior varsity meet 131.45-122.65. Sidney Comes won the all-around competition and Gina Mercurio was second in vault and floor exercise. 

The Tigers travel to Chanhassen Friday night to take on Chaska-Chanhassen in another Missota Conference dual meet.

 

Gymnastics: Home Sweet Home

Amanda Davenport 1st on bars and beam (photo by J. Lindquist)

The Tigers saved their best performance of the season to date for their annual invitational meet, winning the four-team get-together with 137.35 points.

Woodbury finished in second place at 129.3, followed by Minneapolis South/Roosevelt 107.4 and Columbia Heights 103.7

"What a great meet," Farmington coach Lynn Bauman said. "The girls were amazing. They are pulling things together.

"We only had to count four falls which is more normal than what we have been doing. I am very proud of the girls. Their hard work is starting to pay off."

Tiger entrants won all four events and the all-around title. Tahra Eckert and Amanda Davenport each scored a pair of firsts with Eckert winning in vault (9.3) and all-around (33.5) and Davenport capturing the uneven bars (9.0) and balance beam (8.9) titles.

Kathryn Beckett supplied the other Farmington first with a 9.24 mark in floor exercise.

Abby Schwartz aso had a big day for the winners, claiming second on beam (8.65), floor exercise (9.10) and all-around (33.3).

Abby Schwartz 2nd on beam. floor and all-around (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Rachel Kiminski took second and Kenzie McCudden ranked third on the uneven bars. Eckert was fourth on the beam and Davenport finished fourth in floor. Kathryn Beckett and Racquel Beckett tied for fourth in vaulting.

The Tigers also dominated the junior varsity competition with a winning point total of 127.5. Woodbury finished a distant second with 97.15.

Farmington won all four events and the all-around. Gina Mecurio tied teammate Sam Kramer for the top score on beam and all also topped the all-around standings. Kramer won the vault. Kayle Bauman led in floor exercise and Sidney Comes ranked first on the uneven bars.

Tuesday the girls resume their dual meet schedule when they travel to New Prague

Gymnastics: Higher score...even with falls

Tahra Eckert 9th in vault (photo by J. Lindquist)

The Tigers raised their team score three points from their last outing and finished right in the middle of a 15-team field at Saturday's Faribault Invitational.

Defending Class AA state runner-up Northfield successfully defended its 2013 Faribault title with a winning score of 150.45. Austin came in a distant second at 147.1, followed by Winona 142.3, Rosemount 141.95, Cambridge-Isanti 140.05, Owatonna 136.25, Farmington 135.25, Faribault 135.15, Forest Lake 133.15. Martin County 129.4, Waseca 128.65, Rochester Century 127.05, Rochester Mayo 123.9, Breck 123.15 and Rochester John Marshall 114.96.

Farmington's score was its second highest of the season and 3.1 points above what it scored in its last meet of 2013. The score would have been even higher were it not for 10 costly falls.

"Even with all of the falls we had a good day," coach Lynn Bauman said. "We lost six points to falls. Crazy...

"We can clean those up and we will. The girls are working really hard."

Tahra Eckert was the only Tiger to place among the top 10 individuals in an event, ranking ninth in vault with a score of 9.35.

Other top Farmington scores of the meet:

Vault: Abby Schwartz, 9.0; Racquel Beckett, 8.85

Uneven Bars: Amanda Davenport, 8.8; Kiminski, 8.0

Balance Beam: Eckert, 8.9; Kiminski,  8.45

Floor Exercise: Kathryn Beckett, 8.7; Kiminski, 8.6

All-Around: Eckert, 33.35; Davenport, 33.70; Schwartz, 33.30

Gymnastics: Davenport leads Tigers past Chaska/Chanhassen

Amanda Davenport won vault, bars and all-around (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Amanda Davenport had a career night and the Tigers put up a season-best team score in a 136.7-134.85 win over Chaska/Chanhassen Friday night at the District Service Center.

Davenport dominated the competition, finishing first in vault (9.1) and uneven bars (8.25) and second on the balance beam (8.8) and floor exercise (9.0). Her all-around point total of 35.25 was easily a meet best.

"Amanda was the one to watch tonight," Tiger coach Lynn Bauman said. "The Tiger spirit was high. I am happy, happy, happy!"

Rachel Kiminski also had a big night for the Tigers who claimed their first dual meet decision of the season after facing state powers Northfield and Lakeville North in their first two head-to-head competitions.

Kiminski placed third on the beam and fourth in floor exercise and her all-around score if 33.7 was good enough for second place behind Davenport.

Tahra Eckert took third in vault and fifth on floor and ranked third in all-around with a score of 33.65.

Three other Tigers scored fourth place points: Racquel Beckett in vault; Kenzie McCuddin on bars and Sidney Comes on beam.

The Tigers are now off until after Christmas. They return to competition Saturday, Dec. 28 when they travel to Rosemount for a non-conference dual meet.

Gymnastics: Tigers maintain with new lineup

Tahra Eckert 4th on beam and vault (photo by J. Lindquist)

Farmington kept its team score about where it has been for the last three meets in Tuesday night's 148.55-132 loss to defending state runner-up Northfield at the District Service Center despite having to field a new starting lineup.

"Kylie Wharton is now out for the season with a torn ACL," Tiger coach Lynn Bauman said. "Abby Schwartz was at a band concert and Gina Mercurio was out sick.

"We still rose to the challenge and kept the team score up. We just keep improving every day, so now the challenge is to to have everyone there."

The talented Raiders dominated the competition with a fourth place finish the best the Tigers could muster in any individual event. Tahra Eckert took fourth in both the vault and balance beam while Amanda Davenport ranked fourth in floor exercise.

Davenport placed fifth on the uneven bars and in all-around score. Kathryn Beckett took fifth in floor and Rachel Kiminski fifth on beam. Eckert finished sixth in all-around.

Farmington won the junior varsity match handily, outscoring the Raiders 118.25-86.05.

Kiminski had the top score in vault while Sidney Comes won the bars, beam and all-around competition.

Elizabeth Welter took second on the bars and she and Ashley Ellefson tied for the runner-up spot in floor exercise.

The Tigers close out the pre-holiday portion of their schedule Friday with a home dual meet against Chaska/Chanhassen.

Gymnastics: Tigers keep improving at North

Abby Schwartz competes on the uneven bars (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Farmington won the vault and balance beam but perennial state power Lakeville North dominated the uneven bars and floor exercise to defeat the Tigers 136.575-131.725 in a non-conference dual meet Thursday night in Lakeville.

"We had many falls," Tiger coach Lynn Bauman said. "That's something we need to work on for next week. All in all, the girls kept moving forward and improving."

Tahra Eckert provided the only Tiger first place finish of the night when she won the vault with a 9.375 mark. Amanda Davenport took fourth and Abby Schwartz fifth in the same event. In addition to winning vault, Eckert took third on beam and ranked fifth in all-around.

Davenport also had a productive night, placing in all four events and all-around. She finished runner-up on the beam, third on bars and fifth in floor exercise. Her all-around point total of 34.025 ranked third.

Kenzie McCudden placed fifth on the uneven bars and Rachel Kiminski took fifth on the balance beam.

The Tigers lost the services of state meet performer Kyle Wharton when she injured her knee on her dismount from the uneven bars.

The Tiger junior varsity outpointed Lakeville North 121.50-114.20.

McCuddin and Sam Kramer tied for first in vaulting. Gina Mercurio ranked first on the balance beam and Sidney Comes won the all-around competition to lead the Farmington JV effort.

Next week the Tigers host a pair of Missota Conference dual meets at the District Service Center, Tuesday against Northfield and Thursday versus Chaska/Chanhassen.

Gymnastics: A step forward at Becker

Kylie Wharton (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Farmington finished third in an eight-team field at the Becker Invitational held Saturday at the Becker Field House.

Individual places were not kept but Tiger coach Lynn Bauman was happy with her team's score increase from last week's 123.8 performance at the Winter Warm-Up in Austin. This week's total jumped to 132.1.

Melrose posted the highest score of the meet wit a 144.8 point total, followed by Willmar 135.5, Farmington 132.1, St. Michael Albertville 123.2, Becker 119.5, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 114.4, Sauk Rapids-Rice 114.25 and Columbia Heights 95.95.

"We are improving but still have a lot of room to improve," Bauman said. "I was happy with everyone on Saturday."

Bauman was especially pleased with Kylie Wharton's season debut on the balance beam, an event in which she ranked seventh at last year's state meet.

"Kylie had an amazing first showing," Bauman said.

The Tiger junior varsity finished second among five teams with a team score of 119.0.

Thursday the Tigers make the short trip to Lakeville to take on perennial state power North.

Gymnastics: A Winter-Warm up in Austin

Tigers place 3rd at Winter Warm-Up Invitational

A shorthanded Tiger team took third at the seven-school Winter Warm-Up Invitational held Saturday at the YMCA in Austin.

The host Packers defended their 2012 title with a final team score of 140-plus points. Rochester Century grabbed second with the Tigers checking in at third with a mark of 123.8.

Farmington regulars Kylie Wharton, Tahra Eckert and Kenzie McCuddin all missed the meet because of the holiday weekend and newcomer Abby Schwartz was out with a foot injury.

Amanda Davenport turned in the top Tiger performance of the day with an 8.7 effort on the balance beam, good enough for third place finish among individuals.

Amanda Davenport (file photo by Jim Lindquist)

The Tiger junior varsity had a good day in their season opener, placing second in the team standings with a team score of 105.65.

Sidney Comes, Kyla Bauman and Samantha Maynard finished first, second and fifth respectively in the vault. Ashley Ellefson took fourth on the beam and Elizabeth Welter placed fifth in floor exercise.

"Our theme this year comes from coach John Wooden and says 'Make each day your masterpiece," coach Lynn Bauman said. "I was proud of the girls on Saturday.  We had a very good start and we can only improve from there...I'm looking forward to seeing the girls improve their masterpiece."

Their next chance for improvement comes Tuesday, Dec. 12, with a dual meet at perennial state power Lakeville North.   

Gymnastics: Keeping up the momentum

Kylie Wharton 7th in state beam (photo by J. Lindquist)

Last winter the Tiger closed with a flourish, achieving their highest score (140.55) of the season and qualifying two individuals for the state meet at the Section 3AA Championships.

Veteran coach Lynn Bauman is hoping this year's squad can carry that momentum into the 2013-14 season.

"I'm hoping to pick up right where we left off last season and improving form there," she said. "We are shooting for third in the conference and we're moving back to Section 1AA for the post-season."

Bauman returns 13 contributors from last years team, including seniors Kathryn Beckett and Tahra Eckert; juniors Ashley Ellefson and Kyle Wharton; sophomores Racquel Beckett, Elizabeth Welter, Gina Mercurio and Kenzie McCuddin; freshmen Rachel Kiminski, Kyla Bauman, Sam Kramer and Amanda Davenport and eighth-graders Amanda Ruth and Samantha Maynard.

Wharton shook off an injury-plagued season to finish seventh on the balance beam at the state meet last year. Five returnees also earned all-section honors last winter: Eckert, vault; Davenport, uneven bars; Wharton, balance beam; Kiminski, balance beam and Beckett, floor exercise.

Sophomore Sidney Comes, eighth-grader Abby Schwartz and seventh-grader Katie Bellefeille also figure to compete for spots in the varsity and junior varsity lineups this winter.

Bauman says this year's team doesn't have the numbers it has had in years past but thinks that may actually work to her advantage.

"I believe having a smaller team will make us stronger," she said. "As for individual events, beam is looking amazing...and we've only been practicing for five days."

Senior Tahra Eckert (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Bauman said she believes this year's team has a legitimate shot at breaking the all-time school scoring mark of 141.275 if it can remain healthy and injury-free, two areas that seriously impacted the 2012-13 season.

"I'd also like to get a couple girls back to the state meet," she said.

State power Northfield figures to be the team to beat in both the conference and section races with New Prague also figuring to field a solid entry in the Missota.

Brad Albano returns for his second year as varsity assistant coach. Bridgit Abuzzahab, a former gymnast from Spirit Gymnastics/Hamline joins the staff as the other assistant.

The Tigers open their 2013-14 season Saturday, Nov. 30, when they travel to Austin for Winter-Warm-Up Invitational at the Austin YMCA.

Gymnastics: Saving the best for last

Kylie Wharton 7th on beam at state meet

Kiana Lord All-state in floor (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The Tigers started the season with a lackluster team score of 126.525 at the Austin Invitational, but meet-by-meet the numbers went up, culminating in a 140.525 performance at the Section 3AAA Championships where they finished third in a quality eight-team field.

 "I was very proud and happy for the girls," coach Lynn Bauman said. "We made it through many obstacles. The girls just kept their heads up and stuck it out. They were champions in my eyes."

Thirteen gymnasts received varsity letter for their efforts season: Kathryn Beckett, Racquel Beckett, Amanda Davenport, Tahra Eckert, Rachel Kiminksi, Kiana Lord, Mackenzie McCuddin, Gina Mercurio, Kendall Novak, Taylor Schmaltz, Maddie Timerson, Kylie Wharton and Kyla Bauman.

Lord, who ranked 22nd in floor exercise at the Class AA state meet, made the all-Missota Conference team and Beckett received all-league honorable mention.

Wharton came back from an early season injury to finish strong, placing seventh on the beam at the state meet.

Six different Farmington performers won all-section honors, including Eckert, vault; Davenport, uneven bars; Wharton, balance beam; Kiminski, balance beam; Beckett, floor exercise and Lord, all-around.

Lord earned all-state honors for her season-long high marks in floor exercise and gained honorable mention in vault, bars, beam and all-around.

Four other Tigers achieved state honorable mention status: Eckert (vault, beam, floor and all-around); Beckett (vault and floor); Wharton (beam) and Timerson (vault).

Other team awards presented at the post-season banquet included Hardest Worker- Racquel Beckett; Most Improved-Samantha Kramer; Most Positive Spirit-Beckett; Best Form-Wharton; Tiger Award-Schmaltz and Best Crash-Tori Sontag.

Bauman said achieving the 140-point team score was a season highlight as was Lord's returning to state and Wharton's strong showing at state finals.

The only disappointments came in the injury department where Wharton, Eckert, Davenport and Kiminski all spent significant time on the shelf with physical issues.

"They were all on our varsity team and that affected our team score throughout the season," Bauman said. "I'm hoping for an injury-free season next year."

As for the future, Bauman is optimistic.

"It looks really promising," she said. "We might have some new talent coming to our team and that will be fun to watch...I know the girls are excited to workout in the off season to improve for next year."