Zell sets new HHS record in Hub City Invitational

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ABERDEEN — Junior Erica Zell broke one Huron High School gymnastics record and matched another during the Hub City Invitational on Saturday.
As a team, the Tigers finished eighth in the 15-team field with 129.675 points.
“We are finding areas that we need to improve on and are excited to add new difficulty to our routines,” Huron coach Julie King said. “We had a couple Tigers on the award stand and that felt great.”
Watertown won the event with a core of 144.675, while Mitchell was second at 143.475. Rounding out the top five were Pierre at 134.350, Sioux Falls Lincoln at 133.525 and Aberdeen at 132.450.
Zell recorded a new personal best with a score of 36.200 to finish second in the all-around for the Tigers. The effort placed her in a tie for the HHS record in the all-around with Kimberly Hilton.
“It was nice to see Erica have a great day,” King said. “Hard work has paid off for her.”
Myah Morris of Watertown won the all-around title on Saturday with a score of 37.650.
Huron teammates Sarah Christenson, Kassi Decker and Jamee Kattner held spots No. 21-23 in the all around, respectively, with scores of 31.225, 30.775 and 30.750.

Zell established a new HHS record on the balance beam. She used a score of 9.575 to win the event, while Elizabeth Boysen of Sioux Falls Lincoln was second at 9.475.
The old beam record for the Tigers was held by Hilton, who set the mark during the 2000-2001 season.
“She had an outstanding beam day,” King said of Zell. “Not only did she win the even in an invitational of 15 teams, but she also broke a school record that has been in the record books for 18 years.
Christenson was 22nd for Huron on the balance beam with a score of 8.300, while Kattner used a score of 7.500 to tie for 40th and Decker was 42nd at 7.450.
Zell also inked a top-5 finish in the floor exercise with a score of 9.425. She was fifth on the vault with an 8.925 and 11th on the uneven parallel bars at 8.275.
Decker and Christenson also had score showings on the vault for the Tigers. Decker finished eighth with an 8.800, while Christenson tied for 19th at 8.575.
“Kassie Decker had an amazing vault to tie for eighth place,” King said. “She has been working a handspring full this season and does it close to perfect.
Kattner finished tied for 31st on the vault with an 8.275.
“I have been very impressed by Sarah Christenson and Jamee Kattner in their strong performance on the vault,” King said. “They are very consistent vaulters and now can concentrate on perfecting them.
King also noted the effort by Jaci Bankston in the floor exercise. She finished tied for 49th at 8.100.
“Jaci Bankston continues to have her floor score rise,” she said. “I’m very proud of her hard work and dedication to her sport.”
Huron will close the pre-Christmas portion of its schedule on Friday with the Mitchell Invitational at 5:30 p.m.