JC's Schoenlein makes regional

FORT WAYNE — The announcer read the score.
“35.975.”
Lizzy Schoenlein knew it was hers.
And as she walked up to the podium to claim her sixth-place ribbon in the all-around at the gymnastics sectional meet at Fort Wayne Concordia on Saturday, she discreetly pumped her fist.
She’s heading to regional.
“Amazement,” Schoenlein said of what was going through her head when she heard her name called. “I was just really happy.”

Schoenlein is the only Jay County gymnast to qualify for Friday’s regional meet at Huntington North. As a team, the Patriots scored 102.175 to place sixth, ending their hopes of a return trip to the state finals.
The top three teams and the top six individuals in each event qualify for regional.
Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger scored a 110.2 to claim its eighth consecutive sectional championship. Carroll (107.65) and Homestead (106.625) were second and third respectively, earning the other two regional qualifying spots.
 “The schools that showed up today really looked good,” said first-year JCHS coach Lana Kahlig. “Our girls gave it their all. I feel like we came ready to go, we just didn’t have it completely polished.”
Schoenlein, a sophomore, scored a 9.35 on the floor exercise to place fourth. Despite her clean tumbling passes, she still felt as if her score could have been higher.
“My floor routine wasn’t as great as I could have done,” she said. “There were a couple mistakes I could have fixed.”
It was the only score above 9.0 for any Patriot.
On the balance beam — she finished sixth with an 8.925 — she bounced back from a fall early in the routine to nail her aerial. She added an 8.85 on both the uneven bars and vault to place ninth and 18th respectively.
“My beam, I fell once but it was still one of my better scores on the event,” Schoenlein said. “My bar routine, I was happy with that (and) my vault was normal for me.
“It was a good day.”
Senior Malarie Houck scored a 33.550 to place 16th in the all-around competition. She was 17th on the floor (8.85), 20th on the vault (8.75) and bars (8.2) and 26th on the beam (7.75).
“As a senior she’s been a great leader for us,” Kahlig said of Houck. “She is dedicated to the sport of gymnastics. She is dedicated to the girls and helping them out.
“It is sad to see it end this way, but I think she is pleased with how she did the whole year.”
Freshman Courtney Miles, who has been battling an ankle injury for the last six weeks, placed 12th on the bars with an 8.65. Typically an all-around competitor, she was only able to participate on the bars.
“I think it hurts her more than it hurts the rest of us,” Kahlig said. “She really wanted to get out there today. Her score definitely would have helped us.”
Also contributing to Jay County’s team score were Miranda Hibbard and Jocelyn Huey. Hibbard was 22nd on vault with an 8.7, and Huey placed 28th on floor (7.85) and 29th on beam (7.45). Hibbard added a 7.8 on the floor to place 29th, and Huey was 28th on the vault with an 8.55.
Maddie Strausburg also competed for Jay County, finishing 29th on bars (7.4) and 31st on beam (7.2).
“The other girls, they were just solid all the way around,” Kahlig said. “They all had their moment to shine.”