Gymnasts start season off at home

Gymnasts start season off at home By Parker Knox
Sportswriter Vermillion's gymnasts will absorb their first taste of tournament competition Saturday when they take on the field at Wagner's invitational tournament, starting at noon.  The Tanagers opened the season with a dual loss to Sioux Falls Lincoln, 135.2 to 99.6, at the VHS gym Dec. 2.  Following Lincoln's winning Abbie Hoffman in the all-around standings were three Vermillion gymnasts.  Amber Walker was second at 30.85, Elly Melby was third at 29.95, and Rory Tucker was fourth at 19.45.  Walker brought home a fourth on the balance beam and fifths in the vault and on the parallel bars.  Melby, who like Walker is a sophomore, tied with Walker for fifth on the bars and earned fifth alone in floor exercise.  All-around champ Hoffman didn't win any of the individual events, but her Patriot teammates did — Meghan Lambert on the floor, Kaitlin Lang on the bars, Jamie Eszlinger on the beam and Alli Lahren in the vault. Following Saturday's action at Wagner, the Tanagers will vie with Sioux Falls Roosevelt and West Central in a triangular at Roosevelt at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 19 and will host Yankton in a dual at the same time on Dec. 23.