Published: March 11, 2009 10:57 pm      

GYMNASTICS: Western eyes first state berth

NW’s Miller also set to take part in Friday’s regional

Gymnastics has been a part of high school sports in Howard County since 1976, but never has a county team qualified for the IHSAA state championships.

Western hopes to be the first Friday night.

The Panthers will be joined by Ashley Miller of Northwestern at the Harrison Regional, which will draw six teams as well as numerous athletes competing as individuals. The first and second finishing squads and the top six gymnasts in each routine will book passage to the March 21 state finals. Competition begins Friday at 6:30.

The top three finishing teams at the Franklin Central and Harrison sectionals compose the field. Roncalli, Lawrence Central and Franklin Central finished 1-2-3 as did Logansport, Western and McCutcheon.

“Roncalli will likely win [the regional],” said Western coach Margie Lea, “but we feel we have a good chance to get that second qualifying spot. Behind Roncalli, the other five teams are neck-and-neck.

“There has never been a county team advance to state. We’d like to be the first and we think this is our best opportunity. This is the strongest team — depth-wise and talent-wise — I’ve had at Western. Last year we missed qualifying for state by less than one-half point, so we’re hoping this is the year.”

Senior Nikki McCracken and freshman Corinna Cottingham, who have both fought through injuries this season, figure to be the Panthers’ top point-getters.

“Nikki has a cyst near her Achilles that needs to be removed, but she wants to wait until after spring sports are over,” Lea said. “It hurts her push off and agility but she’s an outstanding, focused athlete and I expect her to do well.”

McCracken, who excels in floor and beam, was second in all-around at the sectional.

Cottingham won vault and bars last week at sectional despite having surgery on a blood clot in her shoulder just one week before the competition. She was unable to compete on beam and floor, but that could change at regional.

“The medication she was taking for her shoulder made her a little dizzy, so we kept her off beam and away from floor,” Lea said. “We think she’s fine this week for bars, vault and beam, but we aren’t sure about floor. We hope she can compete in the all-around — she’d have a good chance to qualify for state even if we as a team don’t.”

Sophomore Whitney Worl, who Lea describes as a very consistent performer, was seventh in all-around at sectional and figures to add in Friday’s point total. Others in the mix are junior Casey Herr, eighth on beam and ninth on floor at sectional, and sophomore Alleca Kerker, seventh in bars.

“I’ve seen a big change in Casey this week and I think she can help the team,” Lea said. “Kerker is strong on bars and she’s continuing to work and improve.”

Northwestern’s Miller makes her fourth and final trip to regionals where she will compete in the all-around competition. She won beam at sectional, placed fifth in all-around and stands a good chance of qualifying for state.

“She’s been working very hard all season,” Northwestern assistant coach Melody Wright said. “She has definitely trained well so we expect her to do really well. We’re excited. … I think she’s ready. It’s her senior year and she wants to end her high school career well. I think she’s ready for it.”