July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Another comeback (01/26/07)
JCHS gymnastics
Another comeback (01/26/07)
By By RAY COONEY-
For the second straight year, Jay County's final home meet saw a senior return from injury.
In 2006 it was Heather Stevens, who came back from knee surgery to compete on the uneven bars in the final home meet of her career. Although Lacey Thornburg's ankle sprain this year was not quite as severe an injury, her comeback Thursday was just as impressive.
Her second-place finish on the bars was the highlight of the Patriot gymnastics team's night Thursday as it posted a 95.075 team score for a victory over Muncie Southside. The visiting Rebels, who did not have a full squad, scored 64.225.
"I was happy to come back on senior night," said Thornburg. "It's my last night at home. I was going to do it no matter what.
"I was just happy to be back.
"I'm ready for the rest of the year so I can hopefully get back to doing everything."
Thornburg didn't turn in just any routine, she had the best score on the Patriot squad and finished second on the event overall in the meet which also included Eastbrook's Katie Cragun. Her 7.65 was good for the runner-up spot behind Southside's Brittany Fisher, who finished second on the event in the 2006 sectional competition.
It was one of just two runner-up finishes for Jay County, which was shut out of victories on the night. Fisher won two other events (vault - 9.2 and beam - 8.75) and the all-around (35.075), and Cragun took first on the floor (8.65)
"I'm glad Lacey was allowed to do bars," said JCHS coach Kristin Millspaugh of Thornburg, who injured her ankle when she landed awkwardly on her vault Jan. 11 at Blackford. "I think it really meant a lot to her to perform, even if it was only on one event. For someone who has spent four years doing something ... senior night means a lot ...
"With the limited amount of practice she's had in the last few weeks it was a pretty nice bar routine. It was kind of gutsy to do that dismount."
Freshman Nadlie Runyon turned in the other second-place finish for the Patriots with an 8.5 on the floor exercise.
Jay County had a rough night on the balance beam, but seemed to bounce back with more energy than usual on the floor.
Senior Kristin Brown nailed a full twist to end her opening tumbling pass and used a new front tumbling combination for a third-place 8.35.
"Kristin is finally starting to enjoy gymnastics again," Millspaugh said. "She's very, very talented and has no idea how much potential she has. ... She is gaining confidence and starting to go for things."
Erika Hunt added an 8.15 on the floor, and the team as a whole improved in an area in which they have always struggled.
"There is a section on the score sheet called artistic presentation, and none of them get it," said Millspaugh. "We really worked on just trying to perform, instead of just going through the motions. A lot of them struggle with expression, and so that was a focus in practice this week.
"And I think they have more fun with their routines when they do try to get each other to dance. Not only does the person on the floor have more fun, but everybody sitting over here is having fun trying to get that person to perform."
Vault was the other high point for the Patriots as a week of hard work on the event paid off. Although Hunt was the only JCHS gymnast to place (third - 8.6), it was the team's highest scoring event of the night at 25.25.
Kendra Homan was second on the team at 8.35, and Runyon was right behind her with an 8.3.
"We really did work harder on vault this week than usual," said Millspaugh. "We just talked about having tighter legs and straighter arms and sticking the landings and just trying to find a couple tenths here and there."
Hunt finished third behind Thornburg on the bars at 7.5, and Runyon was next with a 7.375.
Balance beam did not go as well for the Patriots, who had falls in every varsity routine. Runyon placed third with a 7.6, followed by Jenny Buckland (7.45) and Brown (7.25).
Larissa Butcher, the Patriots' third senior, finished with a 6.2 on the beam.
"She's really worked hard to try to work her way into a varsity spot," said Millspaugh of Butcher. "She earned herself (one) at the beginning of the season and she's maintained it. I've been proud of her this year."
Junior varsity
A different gymnast won every event as Jay County posted a team score of 77.65. Southside did not field a JV team.
Kayci Ryder had the top Patriot score as she won the vault with a 7.55. Lexie Rowles was just behind her as she finished with a 7.3 for her floor victory.
Kendra Homan was first on the balance beam at 6.45, and Jenny Buckland took the bars victory with a 6.35.[[In-content Ad]]
In 2006 it was Heather Stevens, who came back from knee surgery to compete on the uneven bars in the final home meet of her career. Although Lacey Thornburg's ankle sprain this year was not quite as severe an injury, her comeback Thursday was just as impressive.
Her second-place finish on the bars was the highlight of the Patriot gymnastics team's night Thursday as it posted a 95.075 team score for a victory over Muncie Southside. The visiting Rebels, who did not have a full squad, scored 64.225.
"I was happy to come back on senior night," said Thornburg. "It's my last night at home. I was going to do it no matter what.
"I was just happy to be back.
"I'm ready for the rest of the year so I can hopefully get back to doing everything."
Thornburg didn't turn in just any routine, she had the best score on the Patriot squad and finished second on the event overall in the meet which also included Eastbrook's Katie Cragun. Her 7.65 was good for the runner-up spot behind Southside's Brittany Fisher, who finished second on the event in the 2006 sectional competition.
It was one of just two runner-up finishes for Jay County, which was shut out of victories on the night. Fisher won two other events (vault - 9.2 and beam - 8.75) and the all-around (35.075), and Cragun took first on the floor (8.65)
"I'm glad Lacey was allowed to do bars," said JCHS coach Kristin Millspaugh of Thornburg, who injured her ankle when she landed awkwardly on her vault Jan. 11 at Blackford. "I think it really meant a lot to her to perform, even if it was only on one event. For someone who has spent four years doing something ... senior night means a lot ...
"With the limited amount of practice she's had in the last few weeks it was a pretty nice bar routine. It was kind of gutsy to do that dismount."
Freshman Nadlie Runyon turned in the other second-place finish for the Patriots with an 8.5 on the floor exercise.
Jay County had a rough night on the balance beam, but seemed to bounce back with more energy than usual on the floor.
Senior Kristin Brown nailed a full twist to end her opening tumbling pass and used a new front tumbling combination for a third-place 8.35.
"Kristin is finally starting to enjoy gymnastics again," Millspaugh said. "She's very, very talented and has no idea how much potential she has. ... She is gaining confidence and starting to go for things."
Erika Hunt added an 8.15 on the floor, and the team as a whole improved in an area in which they have always struggled.
"There is a section on the score sheet called artistic presentation, and none of them get it," said Millspaugh. "We really worked on just trying to perform, instead of just going through the motions. A lot of them struggle with expression, and so that was a focus in practice this week.
"And I think they have more fun with their routines when they do try to get each other to dance. Not only does the person on the floor have more fun, but everybody sitting over here is having fun trying to get that person to perform."
Vault was the other high point for the Patriots as a week of hard work on the event paid off. Although Hunt was the only JCHS gymnast to place (third - 8.6), it was the team's highest scoring event of the night at 25.25.
Kendra Homan was second on the team at 8.35, and Runyon was right behind her with an 8.3.
"We really did work harder on vault this week than usual," said Millspaugh. "We just talked about having tighter legs and straighter arms and sticking the landings and just trying to find a couple tenths here and there."
Hunt finished third behind Thornburg on the bars at 7.5, and Runyon was next with a 7.375.
Balance beam did not go as well for the Patriots, who had falls in every varsity routine. Runyon placed third with a 7.6, followed by Jenny Buckland (7.45) and Brown (7.25).
Larissa Butcher, the Patriots' third senior, finished with a 6.2 on the beam.
"She's really worked hard to try to work her way into a varsity spot," said Millspaugh of Butcher. "She earned herself (one) at the beginning of the season and she's maintained it. I've been proud of her this year."
Junior varsity
A different gymnast won every event as Jay County posted a team score of 77.65. Southside did not field a JV team.
Kayci Ryder had the top Patriot score as she won the vault with a 7.55. Lexie Rowles was just behind her as she finished with a 7.3 for her floor victory.
Kendra Homan was first on the balance beam at 6.45, and Jenny Buckland took the bars victory with a 6.35.[[In-content Ad]]
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