The Farmington gymnastics team's final two meets before their holiday break were as different as Santa Claus and the Grinch.
On Monday night the Tigers took on Simley without sophomore Kelly Pietsch, who has led the team in scoring all season. The Tigers kept things close, losing 110.15 to 111.85, but coach Heather VanBellinger said the team lacked the focus it needed to win the meet.
"Our enthusiasm was not there," she said.
Allie Johnson led the Tigers in Pietch's absence. She had the team's top score on bars (7.0), floor (7.75) and vault (8.3). Sarah Dellwo was the top Farmington scorer on beam (6.9) and second-highest on bars (6.875).
Kelly Barlage was the second-highest Farmington scorer on beam (6.875) and floor (7.55) and Stephanie Hrncir turned in the second-best Farmington score on vault (8.15).
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Things picked up Thursday at Northfield. Farmington lost the meet 134.835 to 119.8, but VanBellinger said the difference in scores was due mainly to the quality of Northfield's team. Farmington's score was its second best this season.
Pietsch was the only Farmington gymnast to place in the meet. She finished third on the beam (8.05). Pietsch was also the top Farmington scorer on bars (7.55), floor (8.05) and vault (8.45).
Dellwo had the second-best Farmington score on beam (7.4) and tied Hrncir for second on vault with an 8.4. She had the third-highest Farmington score on bars (6.85).
Kelly Barlage was the second-highest Farmington scorer on floor (7.9). Johnson finished just behind Pietsch on bars at 7.1.
"Overall the girls just showed better," VanBellinger said. "There's still a lot of things to work on, but Northfield is just an overall stronger team."
Farmington does not have a meet scheduled next week. They will return to competition with a Jan. 4 invitational at New Prague.
