Snyder makes state

HUNTINGTON — Katie Snyder is back.
After losing the second half of her sophomore season to a broken left arm that threatened to end her career, the Jay County High School junior came all the way back to earn a spot in Indiana’s biggest meet. She finished fifth on the vault at the Huntington North regional meet Friday and will advance to the IHSAA Gymnastics State Finals on March 17 at Ball State University.
“It’s awesome,” said Snyder. “It’s a big breakthrough, coming from a year ago literally snapping my arm in half to going to state again. That’s pretty big.”
The Patriots placed fifth out of six in the team competition with 99.1 points, finishing ahead of Muncie Central (94.175). Bishop Dwenger won its 12th regional title in the last 13 years with 109.125 points followed by Homestead (106.5), Huntington North (104.9) and Carroll (103.7).
The top two teams and top six individuals in each event and the all-around advance to the state meet.
“For the most part the girls did well,” said JCHS coach Lora Schlosser, whose team was making its 10th straight regional appearance. “Regional scores are tight. On the floor, I told the girls they were going to be three to five tenths lower than the norm just because (the judges are) looking for (perfection). Overall we did well.”
Snyder’s first vault of the competition was not what she was hoping for as she hit her head on the vault table. However, she nailed her second Yurchenko — a round-off onto the springboard followed by a back handspring onto the vaulting table and then a somersault.
She said her effort was much better than when she won the sectional championship a week earlier, especially on her entry into the vault.
“I think it was cleaner,” agreed Schlosser. “She just had more propulsion, more height … She stuck her landing.”
Snyder earned a 9.3 for her second attempt, finishing five hundredths of a point ahead of sixth-place finisher Morgan Stinson of Homestead. She was five hundredths of a point behind Northrop’s Lindsey Rogers and the host Vikings’ Jessica Baker, who tied for third place.“She was awfully disappointed, mainly because of all the hard work she put in all season long (and then not have a chance to compete),” said Schlosser of Snyder’s experience a year ago. “She was just in tears the whole time here last year. … Moving on is a good accomplishment. She came back strong.”
Snyder fell one place short of a state berth on the uneven bars, finishing seventh with an 8.4. Stinson was sixth with an 8.55.
She was also just a tenth of a point short of advancing to the state finals on the balance beam as she placed eight with an 8.725. Stephanie Freeman of Huntington North posted an 8.825 for sixth place.
Snyder was also 15th on the floor exercise (8.575), and finished ninth in the all-around competition (35.0).
Sophomore Tasya Smith turned in the next-best finish for Jay County, placing 13th on the bars with an 8.05. She was also 16th on the floor (8.275), 18th on vault (8.6) and 24th on beam (7.175).
Malarie Houck, a freshman, followed Snyder on the balance beam with a 7.9 for 22nd place.
“I thought if she would do a no-fall routine … she could move on, and without that fall she would have been close,” said Schlosser of Houck. “Hopefully next year we can see her move on as well.”
Houck joined Snyder and Smith in scoring for the Patriots on all four events as she placed 18th on bars (7.8) and 21st on both floor (7.85) and vault (8.45).
Olivia Cash was the only JCHS gymnast other than Snyder to turn in a no-fall routine on the balance beam, posting a 6.55 for 26th place.
The meet marked the final competition for seniors Cortney Myers, who was 23rd on vault (8.4) and 25th on bars (5.95), and Shelby Pryor, who finished 23rd on floor (7.8).
“Shelby’s floor routine was nice,” said Schlosser. “Her score wasn’t as high as she’s had this year, but it was a nice, clean routine.
“You couldn’t ask for better, sweeter girls,” she added of the seniors. “They’ll be missed.”[[In-content Ad]]