Published: March 07, 2008 11:49 pm            

Western just misses state berth

Panthers advance McCracken, Herr, Ruch as individuals

WEST LAFAYETTE — Western’s gymnastics team took third place at the IHSAA Harrison Gymnastics Regional here Friday night, less than half a point away from advancing to next week’s state meet. Lawrence Central won with a score of 109, Noblesville was second at 104.725 and Western was third at 104.375. McCutcheon (99.425), Harrison (98.675) and Franklin Central (98.2) rounded out the team scores.

“We came so close and we’ve had such a good year and the girls have really worked hard this week,” Western coach Margie Lea said. “They were so excited after winning sectional and doing so well. Coming off the big championship and coming in, the nerves were really strong [Friday].”

Lea praised the squad for pulling together as a team this season instead of just competing as individuals. The Panthers have no seniors and Lea expects Friday’s result to fuel them for next season.

“It was a letdown, coming so close, but all of them are going to return next year and I know they’re going to be that much stronger for it,” Lea said.

Individually, Western saw three gymnasts advance to state as Nikki McCracken advanced by taking third in the all-around competition, Casey Herr advanced in vault with a fourth-place finish, and Taylor Ruch advanced on beam with a sixth-place finish.

McCracken scored 36.675 all-around. Even if she hadn’t advanced as an all-arounder, she scored high enough in each discipline to advance in each event. McCracken took third on vault (9.425), fifth on bars (9.25), fifth on beam (9.025) and fifth on floor (8.975).

“Nikki had a really good day,” Lea said. “She had excellent vaults. We were first team up on floor so we got the weak floor scores and that’s not usually the ballpark Nikki’s in, but she still kept strong on all her events and came out third. That’s awesome because the two girls from Lawrence Central [who took first and second] were really talented gymnasts and Nikki’s right up there with them. She ought to do really well at state this year.”

McCracken was 27th in the all-around at state last year.

Herr scored 9.4 on vault to take fourth, was tied for 16th on bars with an 8.25, was 20th on beam with a 7.75 and was 23rd on floor with a 7.85. She took 14th in the all-around competition with 33.25.

“Casey had an injury on her ankle and her knee was bothering her going in, and it took its toll on her for the day, but she still advances on vault and I’m really pleased for her, and I’m excited for her on that,” Lea said.

Ruch scored a 9.0 on beam to take sixth. She was 15th on floor with a score of 8.35.

Lea said Ruch “kept her composure. She was a nervous wreck going in to beam. [She] put two new skills in and it ended up paying off because she’s sixth place and advances.”

In other results for Western, Whitney Worl was 22nd on vault with an 8.5 and Ashley Rice was 24th with an 8.45. On the bars, Worl was 11th with an 8.45 and Alleca Kerker tied Herr for 16th with a score of 8.25. On beam, Amanda Hudson was 18th with a score of 7.9. And on floor, Rice was 28th with a score of 7.25.

“Alleca Kerker did extremely well on bars,” Lea said. “My two rookie freshmen, Alleca and Whitney, kept their composure through the whole day also, they worked really hard and the experience they’ve gained through this year is going to help them be strong leaders next year.”

The state meet is next Saturday, March 15, at 12:30 p.m. at Indianapolis Perry Meridian High School.

Northwestern had two gymnasts at the regional meet in junior Ashley Miller and senior Megan Schubert. Miller had the highest place among the Purple Tigers, taking seventh on vault with a score of 9.25, just missing out on a spot at state. The top six in each event advance to state.

“Ashley did really well on vault,” NW coach Jenna Tarkington said. “She threw her new vault and scored her highest vault score of the season.”

Miller was also ninth on beam with a score of 8.65. Schubert was 18th on vault with a score of 8.65, 16th on beam with a score of 7.95 and 11th on floor with a score of 8.65. Schubert finished 21st in the all-around competition with a score of 30.95.

“Megan started off strong on vault, was a little rough on bars and beam, but came back with a strong performance on floor,” Tarkington said. “I was so proud to have her finish her career on a solid note.”

        

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