Tumblers win opener

Between rotations Thursday, the host Patriots engaged in some nervous chatter. They weren’t looking forward to their time on the balance beam and the falls they assumed would accompany their routines.
But two of them returned to the mat only on their dismounts, leading a strong opening effort.
Malarie Houck and Courtney Miles each turned in no-fall beam routines Thursday — Houck’s accounted for the team’s only win — as Jay County High School’s gymnastics team started its season with a 102.95-94.225 victory over the visiting Heritage Patriots.
The season-opening score surpassed the total JCHS posted at the sectional, regional and state meets last season and was more than 4.5 points better than the 98.25 from its first meet of 2014.
“Even at the end I didn’t think we did that well,” said Houck, the team’s lone senior, noting her surprise at the high total. “We definitely have some strong competitors. Five all-around girls this year. That’s new. We’ve never done that. We’re all really strong and we stick together and we all get along, so it’s easy to have a good team this year I think.”
The victory extended the winning streak for the team, which hasn’t lost during the regular season since falling 100.475-98.175 to New Castle on Jan. 28, 2012.
“That’s definitely where we want to be at this point in the year,” added coach Lana Kahlig after her first meet leading Jay County. “And we’re hoping to improve that score all year.”
Though Rachael Anderson of Heritage won three of four events — vault (9.15), uneven bars (9.1) and floor exercise (9.3) — and the all-around (36.25), the team result was never in doubt as the depth of the JCHS roster gave it a clear advantage. But there were still jitters when it came time for the balance beam.
Miles, a freshman, was the first to set the nervousness aside, smoothly executing a front walkover as part of a no-fall routine. She posted an 8.8 to finish as the runner-up ahead of teammate Lizzy Schoenlein and Anderson, who tied for third with scores of 8.7.
Like her teammates, Houck was also concerned about the beam. But once she hit her one-handed front walkover, those feelings faded away.
“I was so nervous before that,” said Houck, whose winning score of 8.9 was just 0.05 points short of the career best she set during her sophomore season. “I hadn’t really been nervous all meet, just for that one skill. So then when I connected that it was just relief … It felt good.
“That was really surprising to me, because I have not been sticking my (routine).”
Jay County’s best event score as a team came on the floor, where after Anderson the next five places belonged to the home team.
Schoenlein used strong tumbling, including a full twist to end her opening pass, to pace the team with a score of 9.225 for a second-place finish. Houck followed in third place with her second 8.9 of the night, and Miles finished off the team score of 26.875 with an 8.75.
Miranda Hibbard and Jocelyn Huey added scores of 8.2 and 7.65 respectively.
“The girls did really good on floor,” said Kahlig. “Courtney (Miles) did a strong routine. Some of the girls didn’t throw everything, so hopefully I can see some more next week.”
Jay County will have plenty of opportunities as it hosts Marion on Tuesday and Lincoln (Cambridge City) on Thursday before traveling to Northwestern on Jan. 24.
In addition to her effort on the floor, Schoenlein shared two more runner-up finishes with her teammates. She tied with Houck for second on the vault with an 8.7 and with Miles on the bars with an 8.1.
Houck was third on the bars with a 7.4, and Maddie Strausburg and Hibbard tallied matching scores of 8.675 to tie for third on the vault.

Junior varsity
Jay County was uncontested, with freshman Sydnee Lee finishing first in three events.
Lee took the top spot on the floor with a 7.725 and bars with a 5.25. She and teammate McKenna Daniels tied for first on the vault with scores of 8.1.
Erica Swingley won the balance beam as she posted a career-best 5.7. She was also second on the floor at 6.85, with Daniels (6.65) following in third place.