Pats crush Bluffton in finale (03/02/04)

PORTLAND — If the last two weeks are any indication, the Jay County gymnastics team is ready to defend its sectional crown.

The Patriots won their final five dual meets of the season, topping the century mark in each of their last two victories. They finished the regular-season Monday with a 100.40-70.90 trouncing of the Bluffton Tigers.

Southern Wells gymnast Ashley Smith also competed Monday. She was the only opposing gymnast to crack the top three in any event, taking second on the beam with a 7.85.

“I think we were pretty solid again tonight,” said Jay County coach Kristin Rees, whose team will compete in the Muncie Central sectional Saturday at 11 a.m. “I think this meet along with last week definitely helps the confidence level heading into sectional.”

The Patriots are undefeated against sectional opponents this year with wins over Blackford, Delta, Heritage, Huntington North (OAC), Marion, Muncie Central, Muncie Southside (OAC) and the Tigers. They finished the season at 11-4 in dual and tri meets, and have garnered five straight victories.

Senior Amanda Knight scored well in her final home meet, finishing second on the vault and third on the balance beam and the uneven parallel bars.

As has been the case in almost every meet, Knight nailed both of her vault attempts for an 8.65. She finished just behind sophomore teammate Hannah Williams (8.7).

Knight put together a solid bar routine for a 7.9 despite a slightly awkward dismount. She scored a 7.8 with yet another no-fall beam routine.

“It’s sad,” said Knight of her final home competition. “I’m not ready for it to be done with. It was emotional.”

But her career isn’t quite over yet, as she and the rest of the Patriots hope to bring home a second straight sectional title and advance to regional competition. Rees said it’s been Knight’s support that has made it possible for Jay County to thrive this year.

“Amanda really came on strong as a very positive leader,” she said. “She probably worked harder this year than she had in any of the other three season and she has seen scores improve because of that.

“She’s set a great example in practice.”

Fellow senior Kayla Smith trailed Knight with a 7.7 on the beam for the No. 3 score on the team. She also had an 8.05 on vault and a 7.6 on bars.

She scored a 7.15 for first place on her junior varsity floor routine in which she broke out the “chicken dance” — a move her teammates have been daring her to use all season.

“It was really fun, but sad at the same time,” said Smith. “I’m going to miss everybody next year.”

“Kayla brought humor (tonight),” said Rees, “and she has for the last few years. ... There are a lot of times when she brings that to a practice or a meet when that (helps the team).”

Hannah Williams had another outstanding meet, winning every event on the way to a 35.75 all-around score.

She had one of her best beam routines of the season, nailing both of her back tucks and had no falls for a 9.3. She was first on the bars with an 8.4 and first on the floor with a 9.35.

Makenzie Knight also had a big meet, clobbering her best score ever on bars. Everything came together as second finished in second place with an 8.1.

“It was unexpected,” said Knight, whose previous top score on the event was a 7.5. “My new uprise part had better timing, so maybe that was it.”

“Her high bar is fairly new,” agreed Rees. “Tonight was the first night she did it in the meet the way she does in practice.”

Kristin Brown was second on the floor for the Patriots with a 7.8, and Melissa Fifer was third with a 7.8. Brittany Bauman placed third on the vault with an 8.3 as Jay County again had seven athletes contribute to the team score.

“Our depth all season has been a plus,” said Rees. “It’s helped us to win meets time and time again.”

Now she and assistant coach Laura Miller face the difficult task of choosing four competitors for each of Saturday’s events instead of the usual five

“We need three girls to hit on all four events on the same day,” Rees said. “It’s like all season they’ve kind of been taking turns.

“I think they’re confident. I think we will go in there and hit everything on Saturday.”

Junior varsity

Jay County finished its junior varsity season undefeated with an easy 67.4-38.3 victory over Bluffton Monday.

Caitlin Dunn finished first in a pair of events for the JV squad, taking the bars with a 7.25 and the beam with a 6.8. Sarah Ullom had a 7.5 on the vault to go along with Smith’s floor victory.[[In-content Ad]]