Plymouth, Mi (WTVB) – The Coldwater gymnasts were among 19 schools who competed at the Plymouth Canton Invitational on Saturday. The Cardinals sent a small squad of gymnasts to collect individual qualifying scores as they look to advance as many as possible into the postseason. Rockford took the top honors (142.45) followed by the combined team of Livonia Churchill (141.925). Grand Ledge has been dominating the invites this season, but finished in third with a score of 141.275. Coldwater did not field a complete team on all events, but posted an impressive 91.700 overall. “I used this as an opportunity to rest many of our girls and give some nagging injuries a chance to heal. It was the perfect timing to compete the girls who needed individual scores, since the team has already qualified for Regionals,” explained Coach Kim Nichols. It was a long day of gymnastics, but in the end Coldwater picked up eight individual qualifying scores and a medal on the uneven bars.
Coldwater began the meet on the floor exercise. Kiraly Schoenauer led the Cardinals with her third Regional score of 8.325. Senior co-captain Katie Kimble was next in line with her third straight qualifying score of 7.825.
The Cardinals picked up speed on their second event, the vault. The gymnasts each earned qualifying scores led once again by Schoenauer. Kiraly earned her third straight qualifying mark with a personal best of 8.475. Randi Dudek was close behind for her efforts at 8.4. Katie Kimble collected her second Regional score on the vault at 7.9. She will need to pick up two more scores to join her teammates at the meet in March.
Dudek found her stride on the uneven bars by posting a personal best score of 8.65. The score earned the Cardinal a place on the podium with a 10th place finish overall in Division 1. Schoenauer scored a solid 7.75 for her routine. After a very long day of competition, Coldwater was the final team on the balance beam. Schoenauer continued with one of her best meets of the season by posting an individual qualifying score of 7.875. In the all-around competition, Kiraly Schoenauer led the way with her second best finish of the season with 32.425 total points. She finished in 18th for Division 2. Randi Dudek posted 31. 375 points for her four event tally and a 17th place finish in Division 1. Kimble earned 27.85 points overall for 26th place.
Coldwater will host Monroe High School on Tuesday for a make-up meet after last week’s weather related cancellations. The Cardinals will host their own invitational on Saturday for their 12th annual Stick It For a Cure competition. The gymnasts have been busy collecting donations and selling raffle tickets. The public is invited to the silent auction which runs from 10AM – 2 PM on Saturday in the athletic lobby. (Photo courtesy of Kim Nichols)
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