ROCKFORD, MI (WTVB) – The Coldwater High School Gymnastics team finished fourth on Saturday at the M.H.S.A.A. regional meet hosted by Rockford High School.
The Lady Cardinals tallied 134.5 points as the fourth place finish was the highest for Coldwater in a Regional team competition in decades. The home team Rockford Rams claimed the regional championship title by a narrow margin of 136.075 over the .Jackson Area Gymnastics high school teams with 146.025 points. Lowell High School finished in third for their efforts at 141.5. The top three teams will advance to the MHSAA state finals team competition on Friday.
“We had hopes of possibly advancing as a team to state finals, but I knew we would be the underdogs going in. I am still proud of the girls with our fourth place finish because that is our highest team finish in many years. We have never bested the Forest Hills cooperative team, so that was huge for us,” explained Coach Kim Nichols. “We will be working hard to prepare for coming back even stronger to make our finals bid again next year.”
The meet was conducted in two separate sessions due to the new protocols regarding COVID-19. Coldwater was selected to perform in the first session of the day while the top three seeded teams all were selected for the second session.
Layla Schoch led Coldwater on the balance beam with a score of 8.65 points.
Coldwater had their highest event score of the day in floor exercise at 35.35 points. Six of the Cardinals earned a personal record or tied their season record in their final outing on the floor. Leading the pack was Leah Goodwin who earned a score of 8.875 for her routine.
Goodwin was the high scorer in the vault at 8.75 points. The mark was good enough to finish in eighth place overall for Division One, securing the junior a spot at the state finals competition on Saturday.
Coldwater will send two to the state finals in the uneven bars. Abby Travelbee earned 8.75 points for a fifth place finish, and the right to perform at state finals in the event. Schoch posted a season best of 8.425 for eighth place on the unevens and her efforts have also earned her the right to perform at state finals on Saturday at Rockford High School.
For the all around tallies, Schoch led the team, earning 33.85 total points. McKenna Hantz had a total of 33.325 points for her Regional efforts.
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