The Herald-Press

 

Huntington North gymnast Jessica Baker, competing in her first gymnastics state finals, missed earning all-state honors in Saturday’s gymnastics state finals at Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis.

“The experience was great,” Baker said. “It wasn’t as nerve-racking as I thought it would be. I was much more relaxed. It was a fun experience.“ Baker, a freshman, finished fourth on the vault and sixth on the beam at last week’s Huntington North regional to advance to the state finals.

On the beam, Baker scored 8.700 to finish 22nd. Kellie Kidd, of Valparaiso, won the beam with 9.600.

Baker finished 39th on the vault with 8.800. Kidd was first with 9.800.

Although she said she would’ve like to placed higher, Baker is happy with her first trip to the state finals.

“I was hoping to do better, but I’m happy with my performance going in there as freshman,” said Baker. “I fell on beam and I fell on vault and that hurt my scores, but next time I go it’s my goal not to do that. But, I’m happy.”

Huntington North hadn’t sent a gymnast to the state finals since 2007 when Baker’s older sister, Angie, competed in the all-around. The youngest Baker expects to be back next year and hopefully have her team by her side.

“I’m really motivated for the next three years,” Baker said. “I just want to go and hopefully do all-around or have my whole team go with me. By my senior year, I want people to be watching me as I was watching the seniors gymnasts.”

Kidd won the all-around competition with 38.850. It was the second straight all-around state championship for Kidd.

Valparaiso won the team title for the second straight year, finishing with 113.575. Chesterton was second with 111.500. Roncalli (110.600), Bishop Dwenger (110.500), Hagerstown (110.150) and Columbus North (110.150) rounded out the top five.