Columbus North’s Reese Euler competes on the vault during a gymnastics meet against Franklin Central at Columbus North High School in Columbus, Ind., Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Reese Euler and the Columbus North gymnasts didn’t have their greatest meet in Wednesday night’s season opener, but Bull Dogs coach Bob Arthur doesn’t feel that’s necessarily a bad thing.
North claimed three of the four podium spots in the all-around competition and opened with a 101.775 to 93.55 win against Franklin Central.
“Honestly, do I mind having a lower score at the beginning of the season? Absolutely not,” Arthur said. “I don’t want to set the bar too high at the beginning. I want them to progress and each meet, get a little bit better.”
While the team battle wasn’t close, the battle for the all-around title was tight between two of the state’s best. Franklin Central senior Austyn Dykes, who edged former Bull Dog star Emily Moore to win the state all-around title in 2021, slipped past Euler 35.425 to 35.225.
Euler, a junior who was undefeated in the all-around last season until finishing fourth at the state meet, had a little bit of an off night. She won the bars (8.925) and beam (9.175), but finished third on the vault (8.65) and floor (8.475).
Although she did not have any falls, Euler slipped on the vault apparatus and did the same skill an extra time on the floor.
“I kind of messed up my vault and my floor some,” Euler said. “I’m not mad with bars and beam. I know I have some improvement to do on the other events.”
North’s Hannah Perry won the floor (9.0). She also finished third on the bars (7.875) and beam (8.625) and fourth on the vault (8.6) on her way to a third-place all-around finish with a 34.1.
Also for the Bull Dogs, Laney Acton finished fourth on the floor (8.025) and in the all-around (31.275). Ellie McIntier took second on the vault (8.7) and fourth on the bars (7.825).
North visits crosstown rival Columbus East on Monday.
“It was a good warmup meet,” Euler said. “It wasn’t obviously what I wanted to do. I couple things happened that I guess are good to know for the rest of the season, and I’m not mad I didn’t do anything super good, so I have something to build on for the rest of the season. We can only go up from here.”
