COLUMBUS
A wave of illness caught up with the Seymour gymnasts Monday night.
The Owls were well off the 106.075 score they put up in winning Saturday’s Bloomington South Invitational. As a result, they took a big loss Tuesday night at fourth-ranked Columbus North.
The Bull Dogs took all four individual events and the top three spots in the all-around competition in racking up a 111.025. Seymour had its lowest score of the season, a 99.75.
“It’s the time of the season when the girls are tired,” Seymour coach Angie Mellencamp said. “Their bodies are sore. A lot of these girls haven’t competed back-to-back meets.”
The Owls did have a couple of place-winners, led by Kellsye Warner. Warner finished third on the floor (9.425) and fourth on the beam (9.15) on her way to a fourth-place all-around finish (33.725).
Brett Kleber took third on the bars (8.05). Avery DeHart was fourth on the vault (8.8).
Following the vault, DeHart, Seymour’s No. 2 gymnasts, competed only on the bars before experiencing sickness and sitting out the final two events. Mellencamp said the Owls have had three gymnasts who have been battling sickness, and a couple didn’t make it in to practice Monday.
Among Seymour’s other competitors, Grace Furlow finished sixth in the all-around with a 32.075. Kleber took seventh (31.25), and Ivy Brown was eighth (30.525).
“We have some down time,” Mellencamp said. “Hopefully, we can get rested, get back in the gym and get working.”