Owl gymnasts give it their all in tough sectional

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COLUMBUS — The Seymour gymnastics team ran into strong competition at the Columbus East Sectional on Saturday afternoon and saw its season come to an end.

The Owls finished ninth with 95.75 points. Bloomington North (108.175), Columbus North (107.975) and Indianapolis Roncalli (105.275) finished in the top three places to advance to the regional at Franklin Central on Friday night.

Going into the meet, Owls coach Angie Mellencamp said she felt her team could battle three or four other schools for third place, but Martinsville, Franklin Central and Bloomington South filled the 4-5-6 places by scoring 101 or higher.

“It was a good day,” Mellencamp said. “I am super proud of what the girls put on the floor. I can’t really complain on anyone today. We had our skills in, and they were clean, but it was a tough sectional. We started out on beam, which is a difficult event to start out on just because nerves are fresh at the beginning of the meet.”

Columbus East went first on the beam, and Seymour followed and was led by Piper Hawkins with a score of 8.075, but none of the other Owls scored in the 8s. Seymour’s team score was 23.150.

“The girls did great, but we did have some falls that we don’t usually have to start the meet off,” Mellencamp said.

Seymour then competed in floor exercise and posted some of its best scores of the day as Hawkins was 17th with 8.575, Lillie Cote scored 8.275 and Ava Reedy scored 8.250.

Seymour then moved to vault and led by Marlo Cornn with an 8.6 recorded 25.525 points. The Owls again had three scores in the 8s as Reedy put up an 8.525 and Cote had an 8.4.

Seymour finished on bars, where the Owls scored 21.975 and Hawkins posted the highest score at 7.4.

Cote, the only senior on the team, had a busy Saturday as she traveled to French Lick where she competed in All-Star Cheer that began at 7 a.m.

When that competition was completed, she drove to Columbus for gymnastics.

“I enjoyed just having fun for my last time (at sectional),” she said.

She competed in the sectional all four years

“I thought I did pretty well. I had a cheer competition in French Lick before this, so I’ve been up since 3 a.m.,” she said. “I competed there and came here, so I’m pretty proud for just getting up and doing all of it. I came here to compete at 1 (p.m.). I missed bar warmup, but other than that, I got everything. I enjoyed my time at Seymour. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Cote said the sectional can always have more pressure and intensity during competition.

“The sectional is super tense with everyone scoring about the same scores. I’m proud of my teammates no matter what happened. They’ll always be family, and I’m super proud,” she said.

“Everyone came in and did what we expected them to do,” Mellencamp said. “They were all clean, solid. We didn’t have questions of any of their skills. We also had two girls sick this past week and at home, so our practices weren’t 100%.

“We had to pull Nev (Cockerham) out of the lineup today due to a rolled ankle. I appreciate our alternate (Marlo Cornn). She did exactly what we needed her to do today. I couldn’t have asked more of anybody.”

Cornn filled in for Cockerham on floor and beam. Cockerham did compete on bars.

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