Tecumseh gymnasts break school team records

TECUMSEH — It took 12 years but Tecumseh’s varsity gymnastics team was finally able to surpass a record it set in 2003. The Indians set an all-time high team score of 131.525 on Thursday, Jan. 22, at Jackson Lumen Christi in a South Central Gymnastics League meet.Despite recording their highest team score, the Indians lost the meet with Lumen Christi posting 140.35.“These girls knew going into this meet that it was going to be tough competition and they were going to have to push a little harder,” Tecumseh coach Jen Posten said. “We are getting late in our season so our bodies are feeling the wear and tear, but they managed to go out and compete hard. We’ve talked a lot about mental toughness and I think this young team is starting to figure that out. Luckily success is contagious, so even though this was a loss on our record there was still a lot of value in how we performed tonight.”The Indians started on bars and had several gymnasts record regional scores, including Hannah Swirple (6.95), Alaina Carr (7.1), Talia Rebottaro (7.35), Bailie Posten (7.125), Madison Harkness (7.85) and Kelsey Bogrow (8.0). All seven varsity gymnasts posted regional scores on vault: Brianna Price (8.5); Bogrow (7.9); Swirple (8.15); Posten (8.1); Carr (8.4); Morgan Cadmus (8.55) and Harkness (8.55).Tecumseh also recorded a school-high team score of 35.1 on floor, beating the previous record of 34.4 set in 2003.Harkness placed second in the event (9.1), with the other three contributing record setters including Cadmus (8.75), Price (8.6), and Posten (8.65).Beam scores were consistent with the top four being Kassidy Connors (7.85) in her first meet back from a knee injury, Swirple (7.4), Posten (8.2), and Harkness (8.2).The Indians B-team also competed at Lumen Christi. Sophomore Baylee Stern earned regional qualifying scores on vault (8.2) and bars (6.8) while freshman Alicia Jones posted a regional qualifying score on vault (8.0). Tecumseh’s B-team beat Lumen Christi 109.4-106.7. Tecumseh’s varsity team followed with a third place finish at Adrian’s Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 24.The Indians scored 128 points; just behind Saline's second place score of 128.9. Lumen Christi won the meet with a total of 137.075.Tecumseh freshman Madison Harkness placed first in the All-Around with a score of (33.525). She was fourth on vault (8.425), seventh on bars (7.975), sixth on Beam (8.425), first on floor (8.75). Bailie Posten placed seventh place on floor (8.275).“Today our team was mentally strong, these girls were focused and positive, ready to compete,” coach Posten said. “We had girls stepping out of their own personal comfort zone for the good of the team and that was the biggest factor in our successes today. There is always room for improvement and we have a solid week of practice before our next meet to work on our weaknesses.”The Indians will host their annual Invitational at Tecumseh High School on Saturday, Jan. 31, beginning at 10 a.m.