The Seymour gymnastics team is used to waiting longer than most winter sports — basketball, swimming, wrestling — to get its season underway.

The Owls always kick off their campaign after the New Year, and Seymour is gearing up for that much-anticipated first meet on Monday against Owen Valley at home at Gymnastics Lane.

Last season, Seymour opened its season against Columbus East, and the Owls edged out the Olympians 99.4-98.95.

Seymour’s second meet came against this year’s opener in Owen Valley, and the Owls also scored a close victory in that one, defeating Owen Valley 89.95-89.65.

The team is hoping for a similar start to the 2023 campaign, starting Monday at 6 p.m.

“The team has a lot of excitement heading into Monday,” head coach Angie Villarreal said. “Our seniors are really helping our underclassmen keep their nerves at bay. There is a lot of conversations at practices as to what to expect on Monday.”

After having just one senior last year in Lillie Cote, Seymour has a strong contingent of seniors this year. The five seniors on the rosters are Marlo Cornn, Kayli Carter, Piper Hawkins, Grace Lewis and Caitlin Thomasma.

There are no juniors on this season’s roster, two sophomores and three freshmen.

The Owls had a ninth-place finish at the sectional last year. The Owls scored 95.750 points but were less than 10 points away from a top-three finish that could advance Seymour forward. Bloomington North won last year’s sectional with a team score of 108.175.

Cornn was Seymour’s top finisher in vault last season at the sectional with a score of 8.60, and Hawkins led Seymour on both beam (8.075) and floor (8.575).

Seymour will rely heavily on its seniors this season to lead the way, but Nev Cockerham has experience as a second-year gymnast, and Mia Dailey went to nationals over the summer as an eighth-grader, where she finished 11th on vault, eighth on bars, second on beam, first on floor (national title) and third all-around (national title).

Hawkins also competed at nationals in Orlando over the summer.

It’ll be a sprint of a season for Seymour, as after the home opener on Monday, the Owls will have just a little over a month before the postseason begins on Feb. 25 at Columbus East High School.

“I am ready to put the girls’ routines in front of judges,” Villarreal said. “The team knows we are not throwing all of our skills Monday but just working on execution, amplitude and extension in their skills. We will add skills as they become stronger through the season. We will have a lot of senior leadership to help guide the underclassmen through the season.”

Roster

Head coach Angie Villarreal

Seniors: Marlo Cornn, Kayli Carter, Piper Hawkins, Grace Lewis, Caitlin Thomasma

Sophomores: Nev Cockerham, Yui Sayama

Freshmen: Gillian Bumbleburg, Mackenzie Bryson, Mia Dailey

Schedule

Jan. 9 Owen Valley, 6 p.m.

Jan. 12 at Franklin Central, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 19 Shelbyville, 6 p.m.

Jan. 23 at Bloomington North, 6 p.m.

Jan. 28 at Bloomington South, 11 a.m.

Feb. 2 Columbus North, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 11 at Bloomington North Invitational, 10 a.m.

Feb. 16 at Bloomington South, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 20 at Columbus East, 6 p.m.

Feb. 25 Sectional at Columbus East, 1 p.m.

March 4 Regional at Columbus East, 1 p.m.

March 11 State at Ball State, 1 p.m.