Gym SECTIONALS: Preview

By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor

The 36th Annual IHSAA Girls Gymnastics State Tournament gets under way March 1 at eight sites around the state. (Click here for the tournament lineup, then click here for the final regular-season top team and individual scores!)

A year ago, Lawrence Central captured its first-ever state title by downing two-time defending champ and perennial power Fort Wayne Dwenger, 111.0 to 110.425. Center Grove, the 2006 runner-up, placed third with 110.2 points, with Chesterton (109.625) fourth, Carmel (109.425) fifth, Valparaiso (109.25) sixth, Columbus North (108.95) seventh, and Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran (108.5) rounding out the state finals field in eighth.

While there’s a decent chance that Lawrence Central will make it back to the finals this year, there’s virtually no chance that the young Bears will defend their throne. That battle figures to come between top-ranked Valparaiso and No. 2 Columbus North, each of whom has posted a state-high team score of 114.200 this season.

Individually speaking, all the state champions return, led by double-winner Katelyn Fernandes. The Center Grove junior, who won a state title two years ago in the vault, duplicated that effort with a 9.7 last year to go with her score of 38.125 in the all-around.

Other defending champs back for more are Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran sophomore Brannon Springer (9.675 in the uneven bars), her classmate Hannah Osborn (9.725 in the floor exercise), and Fort Wayne Dwenger senior Jeanna Van Hoey (9.7 in the balance beam).

But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s take a quick peek at what’s on tap for this Saturday’s sectionals. Right off, three of the sectional sites grab your attention as they will feature 14 of the state’s 21 ranked teams.

At Chesterton, it’ll be the usual juggernaut as five ranked teams try to eke out one of the three regional-qualifying spots. Valparaiso figures to lead the way at the 10-team event, followed by No. 4 host Chesterton, seventh-ranked Merrillville, No. 13 Crown Point, and No. 14 LaPorte.

At Columbus East, the landscape is eerily similar with Columbus North as favorite followed by fifth-ranked Center Grove and No. 6 host Columbus East, with No. 17 Bloomington South and No. 18 Jeffersonville hoping for some help.

At Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, third-ranked Dwenger will be favored ahead of the No. 7 host Cadets, with No. 11 Fort Wayne Snider and No. 16 Fort Wayne Northrop likely battling for the third spot.

Of the other five sectional sites, three of them feature a pair of ranked teams.

At Connersville, seventh-ranked New Castle likely will duel with No. 10 Hagerstown for the crown. At Warren Central, No. 18 Noblesville and 20th-ranked Lawrence Central figure to advance to the regional. At Wawasee, No. 12 Carroll (Fort Wayne) gets a reprieve from having to compete at the loaded Concordia sectional and likely will down No. 21 Plymouth for the title.

The other two sectionals will take place at Harrison (West Lafayette), where No. 15 Western is the favorite, and Muncie Central, where there are no ranked schools among the 11 teams.

If all goes according to plan this weekend, then two of the four regionals scheduled for March 7 will be absolutely loaded. Seven ranked schools feed into both the Columbus East and Valparaiso sites, although the most that can advance past sectionals is five apiece.

The top five schools in the rankings – Valpo, Columbus North, Dwenger, Chesterton, and Center Grove – could all make it through to the state finals Match 15 at Perry Meridian. But the carnage begins at the sixth spot, meaning top programs like Columbus East and Merrillville could be outside looking in.

Vault
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