The Shelbyville News

 

The smallest school in the state with a gymnastics program is moving on to regional competition.

The Lady Yellow Jackets finished third (102.875) behind fifth-ranked Hagerstown (111.225) and sixth-ranked New Castle (108.725) Saturday at the Connersville Sectional to earn a berth in the Columbus East Regional this Friday at 7 p.m.

As the final standings were announced Saturday, the Lady Yellow Jackets couldn't bring themselves to celebrate, even though they were one of just three teams remaining to be called.

"They didn't really react until they heard the third place," Morristown coach Dee Ann Myer said. "It was kind of subdued. They didn't really tear up until they announced Morristown."

Advancing to the regional didn't exactly surprise Myer. The Lady Yellow Jackets just missed accomplishing the feat last year with a fourth-place finish in the sectional.

"I think it was something we had talked about ... kind of dreamed about it," Myer said. "Last year we could see just a hint of it."

Morristown senior Krista Berry, a state finalist in 2008, solidified her position as one of the top gymnasts in the state with sectional wins on the uneven bars (9.325), floor exercise (9.600) and vault (9.825). Berry's vault score was a new school record and the highest vaulting score recorded at a sectional Saturday.

"It was the first time she hit that vault in a meet," Myer said. "It was incredible."

Berry also broke her own school records in the floor exercise and all-around.

Berry finished second in the all-around competition to Hagerstown junior Caitlyn Catania by two-tenths of a point.

Catania won the balance beam sectional title with a score of 9.550, finished second on the uneven bars (9.300), tied for second on the vault (9.550), and fourth in the floor exercise (9.425) for an all-around score of 37.825.

Berry finished tied for sixth on the balance beam with a score of 8.875, putting her all-around total at 37.625.

The top three teams and the top six finishers in each event advanced to regional competition.

No other Morristown gymnast finished in the top six, but all advance with Berry to the regional.

Also for Morristown, Grace Havlin was 11th (33.675) and Jessica Powell was 22nd (29.200) in the all-around.

Havlin's best finish was ninth (9.025) in the floor exercise. Powell was 24th (7.150) on the balance beam.

Sarah Albrecht tied for 15th (8.000) on the uneven bars. Olivia McPherson was 21st (8.375) in the vault. And Jordan Short was 16th (8.150) in the floor exercise.

In another sectional Saturday:

Warren Central Sectional

Roncalli (109.125), Lawrence Central (105.550) and Franklin Central (104.350) earned regional spots this Friday at Harrison (West Lafayette).

Shelbyville's top gymnast, junior Lauren Boring, did not compete due to suffering a back injury during warm-ups. That left a very young Golden Bear team without their leader.

"They weren't very focused because they were worrying about Lauren," Shelbyville coach Jan Anderson said of her team. "And for the freshmen, it was their first time, and it was a little intimidating, seeing some of the bigger schools there."

No Shelbyville or Triton Central gymnast qualified for the regional.

Triton Central's Ashley Kern (29.750) and Shelbyville's Paige Durphey (28.975) were 20th and 22nd, respectively, in the all-around competition.

Kern's best finish was 13th (8.250) on the balance beam. Her teammate, Hannah Glackman finished 31st in both the floor exercise (7.175) and balance beam (7.200).

For Shelbyville, Durphey was 25th (7.750) in the floor exercise.

Emily Coffey was 22nd (7.550) and Alexis Ayres was 33rd (6.800) on the uneven bars. Megan Cory was 30th (7.300) in the floor exercise. Halle Boring was 17th (8.075) in the vault.

And senior Megan Smith, a regional diving finalist just last month, nearly qualified for the regional with an eighth-place finish (8.275) in the vault.