No. 17 Jay beats Spartans

The Patriots walked away with a lot of positives Tuesday.
They defeated a former conference rival.
They bumped their score back above 100.
And, perhaps most importantly, they finished off a run of three meets in four days and will now be able to get some much-needed rest.
Katie Snyder led a tired No. 17 Jay County High School gymnastics team, winning all four events in a 100.75-93.975 victory over the visiting Connersville Spartans.
“I’m glad for the girls, because they’re really tired,” said JCHS coach Lora Schlosser of the win and the triple-digit score. “They’re so looking forward to having a day off tomorrow.”
The Patriots scored in the 90s as they finished fifth at Saturday’s Viking Invitational at Valparaiso and again Monday in wins on the road against Tri and Lincoln. They get eight days off before their next meet Jan. 27 at home against Muncie Southside.
“The girls need a rest,” said Schlosser. “It’s taken a toll on their bodies. We haven’t had time to come back and regroup and try to fix anything.
“I think that’s why our scores haven’t elevated. We’re just stagnant. I think we just need to get a good week or two in the gym to help get those scores up.
“We’re looking at all of the stuff we need to work on. There is a lot of stuff that we’re missing in event requirements … that we need going into sectional.”
Snyder, a state qualifier on the vault last season, came through for JCHS with the sweep for an all-around score of 34.85. Her best effort came on the vault, where her Tsukahara earned her a 9.4.
The sophomore took the top spot on the floor with an 8.7, and posted an 8.5 to win the uneven bars. She had one fall on the first of her two back tucks, but still took the balance beam with an 8.25.
“Her floor is getting better, bars are improving,” said Schlosser. “Beam we’ve just got to stay on. And I really want to get in there and change up that beam routine.”
Tasya Smith was the only Patriot to earn a second-place finish, tying with Connersville’s Presley Fohl on the vault with an 8.7.
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The Spartans claimed runner-up finishes on the remaining three events, with Sarah Schutt second on the floor (9.4) and beam (8.225) and Allie Purcell second on the bars (8.075).
Smith also on the floor for Jay County, which was without senior Melynda Brackman because of an ankle injury suffered during Monday’s meet, with an 8.35 for third place.
Schlosser said she sees the freshman, who won the bars competition against Tri and Lincoln, gaining confidence as the season moves along.
“She hasn’t competed since fourth or fifth grade,” Schlosser said. “So she’s got a lot of years behind her trying to get caught up. She’s moving right along. I expect some big things out of her.”
Senior Kristen Ainsworth posted a pair of third-place finishes, which included an 8.65 on the vault. She added an 8.175 for her beam routine, which like Sndyer’s included one fall.
She also scored for the Patriots with an 8.25 on the floor and a 7.875 on the floor.
“It was a good meet for her,” said Schlosser. “I’m glad her scores got back up to where she wants them to be. … It’s a positive.
“I just think she was more aware of execution. She’s really putting forth a lot of effort to clean it up.”
Nikita Gundersen was the only other JCHS gymnast to score on a varsity event. She finished third on the bars with a 7.925, and added a 7.975 on the beam.
Schlosser said she was also impressed with some of the progress from the gymnasts who are not yet scoring for the varsity squad.
Shelby Pryor posted an 8.15 to win the junior varsity bars Tuesday, and she also had an 8.05 on the floor. Cortney Myers finished with an 8.35 on the vault, and Olivia Cash scored an 8.1.
And Jessi Chittum finished with an 8.0 to take the top spot on the junior varsity floor.
“Jessi did well on floor,” said Schlosser. “She hit her eight. A couple of the girls on vault, their scores are getting better.”
In other junior varsity events — Jay County won all four, but did not have enough competitors for a team score — Cash took the balance beam with a 6.7 and Pryor won the bars with a 4.075.[[In-content Ad]]