Set for state

Lizzy Schoenlein isn’t concerning herself with the rest of the field.
She knows all she has to do is focus on her routines and strive for perfection.
So when the Jay County High School sophomore begins the first rotation Saturday at the IHSAA Gymnastics State Finals at Ball State University’s Worthen Arena, she’s one step closer to reaching her season-long goal — to stand on the podium at the state finals.
“I haven’t looked at the scores a whole lot,” said Schoenlein, whose first rotation is on the floor exercise when the meet begins at 1 p.m. “I just know as long as I stay on the (balance) beam, I’ll have a good shot.”
And it’s the beam with which Schoenlein has the best chance at earning a medal.
The career-best 9.525 she earned at the Huntington North regional on Friday has her seeded second. She trails Katelynn Chaffee of Homestead, who edged Schoenlein by 0.125 points to claim the regional title.
Seeds are based on regional scores, and the top six places in each event earn state medals.
Staying on the beam has been her main focus all season long, and it was especially a point of emphasis during regional. She had a few close calls when she had to regain her balance, but kept her feet on the 4-inch wide apparatus, something she wasn’t able to do at the sectional meet.
First-year coach Lana Kahlig said the key to Schoenlein turning in another near-perfect routine will be with a solid opening.
“If she’s off to a good start at the beginning, her opening element is high level back-to-back,” Kahlig said. “If she gets that she’s doing pretty well.”
Schoenlein admits the most difficult part of her routine is the aerial, which is essentially a no-handed cartwheel. She also noted she gets frustrated if she’s not able to stick it during warm ups.
“It changes the entire routine,” she said. “If I fall off the beam it’s not the end of the world. I know I can stay on now. If I do everything else the best I can then I will be happy.”
Schoenlein’s next highest seed is the all-around, for which her career-best 36.35 is 17th. Morgan Township’s Kylee Maxwell, the defending all-around state champion as well as uneven bars, has the top seed with a score of 38.325.
Maxwell is also seeded first in vault (9.9) and bars (9.725). Schoenlein is tied for 32nd and tied for 24th respectively with her regional scores of 8.8 on vault and 8.7 on bars.
“She’s thrown out the idea of her harder dismount,” Kahlig said of Schoenlein’s bar routine. The sophomore had been working on a more difficult dismount leading up to the regional meet, but decided to ditch it at the last minute to save her knees for her meet-ending beam routine. “She’s sticking to one she’s more comfortable with and working on keeping everything tight.”
At regional, Schoenlein recovered from a disappointing first attempt on vault to stick the second, and it’s the only event with which the sophomore has not beat her career best this season.
“I’m looking forward to her trying to beat her best,” Kahlig said. Schoenlein’s career-best is an 8.9.
Schoenlein is tied for 22nd on the floor exercise with her regional score of 9.325. Hanna Wilson of top-ranked Valparaiso, which is the defending team state champion, holds the top seed with a 9.75. Schoenlein’s career best is a 9.525.
“We have high expectations for Lizzy, especially on beam and floor,” Kahlig said.
The constant repetitions in practice have been taking their toll on Schoenlein, a two-sport athlete who also plays volleyball.
“My body is starting to hurt,” she said.
But she’s getting the opportunity to have her season end at the state finals for the second consecutive year.
“It’s nerve wracking knowing the season is going to be over,” she said. And despite having experience at the finals, she’s still nervous to compete at the state’s highest level. “I always get nervous for state. I was nervous this past week, but once I get there I’ll be OK.”