After finishing first and second at the Columbus East Sectional, the Columbus North and East gymnasts are in position to repeat that finish in Saturday’s East Regional.
The second-ranked Bull Dogs (110.25), sixth-ranked Olympians (108.625) and seventh-ranked Owen Valley (106.4), which finished third in the East Sectional, had the top three scores among the six teams who will compete at East on Saturday. Connersville (102.225), New Palestine (101.775) and New Castle (100.175) advanced out of the Connersville Sectional.
The top three teams in the regional qualify for the March 12 state finals at Ball State.
“We weren’t hitting on all cylinders, but we survived another battle,” North co-coach Bob Arthur said. “The teams coming out of the other sectional were not as strong as Columbus East and Owen Valley, so I’m guessing it will be the same three teams advancing to state.”
The Bull Dogs and Olympians were a little off their best scores of the season. Both had to count three falls on the beam.
Each fall results in a half-point deduction.
“We had a disastrous beam, and at that point in time, we had to turn ourselves around and refocus and say, ‘There are two events left, and we have to go after those events,'” East coach Nancy Kirshman said. “Not only did Seena (Greiwe) and Adi (Minor), but Andrea Stattenfield had a wonderful floor routine, and they were rewarded for it.”
North is the two-time defending regional champion and finished third at state last year. The Olympians, meanwhile, will look to make their way back to the state finals as a team after finishing fourth in the regional last season.
“We’re positioned well again,” Kirshman said. “We’d like to raise our scores just a little bit more, but to get to the state meet, that’s been our goal, and hopefully, we can do that.”
East diver, swimmer honored
Senior diver Cordell Glass and junior swimmer Cortney VanLiew have been selected most valuable players for the Columbus East boys and girls swim teams.
Senior Jacob Harpring was named Most Improved New Swimmer, and freshman Evan Wieneke was selected Most Promising New Swimmer for the boys. Juniors Chris Borowski and Austin Smith were selected as co-captains.
For the girls, sophomore Lily Shelp was selected Most Improved Swimmer. Seniors Raegan Bradley and Maelyn Kiser were recognized as co-captains.
Kiser was also named Academic All-State by the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association.
North grad recognized
Jon Karr, who led Avon to a third-place finish in last weekend’s Boys Swimming State Finals, was named Coach of the Year by the Indiana High School Swimming Coaches Association.
Karr, a former Columbus North swimmer, won the award for the second time in three years. He was also honored after leading the Orioles to a runner-up finish in 2014.
Jets hosting skills camp
The Hauser baseball team will host a Spring Training Skills Camp from 10 a.m. to noon March 14 to 16 in the school’s fieldhouse for Grades K-8.
Cost is $30. Signup forms are available at flatrock.k12.in.us/page/451.
