Owatonna High School’s gymnastics team secured its first-ever state championship in Class AA in 2025, a victory propelled by a balance beam score of 37.200 and a total score of 146.825, according to the Minnesota State High School League.
The win, however, came amidst a season marked by significant adversity for the Huskies. Head coach Kiana Starks acknowledged the challenges faced by the team, stating, “They’ve had a lot of adversities thrown at them this year.” Those adversities included a wave of season-ending injuries impacting a substantial portion of the roster.
Prior to the state meet, Owatonna demonstrated its strength by winning the Section 1AA title for the second consecutive year, overcoming competition from Lakeville South. The team also achieved a fourth-place finish at the Class AA True Team State Meet and a runner-up position at the Big 9 Conference Meet.
The Huskies’ success built upon a strong showing at the 2024 Class AA individual meet, where they sent six athletes to state. However, only one of those athletes was able to compete at the Section 1AA championship this season.
Key performers for Owatonna included Delia Neumann, a sophomore who earned gold on the balance beam at the state individual tournament, and senior Chloe Myer, who secured a bronze medal on the same apparatus. Myer, along with several other Huskies, battled through injuries throughout the season, with her own proving to be season-ending in the latter part of the regular season. Johanna Spielman, Ava Maves, and Josiana Spielman also suffered season-ending injuries before or early in the year.
At the 2025 Individual State Tournament, Owatonna saw multiple gymnasts reach the podium. Neumann claimed first place on the balance beam and fifth on bars. Myer finished third on beam, and senior captain Jozie Johnson earned eighth place on vault.
The team will be losing three graduating seniors – Averie Roush, Halle Theis, and Jozie Johnson – who served as captains this year. Roush reflected on her time with the team, highlighting the value of the sport and the bonds formed with her teammates.
The Class AA State Meet for team competition was held on February 21, 2025, with the individual competition following on February 22, 2025.
