WHITE LAKE, MI (WTVB) – The season for Coldwater High School girls gymnastics concluded on Saturday as two Coldwater gymnasts competed in the M.H.S.A.A. Individual State Finals at White Lake Lakeland High School.
Junior Charlotte Calhoun was crowned the Division 2 Runner-Up in the All-Around and was named All-State in three other events. That is the highest All-Around finish for any gymnast in Coldwater history for Division 2. Senior Randi Dudek also competed on Saturday in three events and came out with her highest uneven bars finish in her three appearances at the Finals.
Photo courtesy of Kim Nichols
Competitors are divided into two Divisions and there were 49 gymnasts in Division 1 and 83 gymnasts in Division 2. Local gymnastics official Courtney Dean was honored in the opening ceremonies for her 20 year tenure as an MHSAA gymnastics official. Dean is a former CHS gymnast, gymnastics coach, and gymnastics official.
Calhoun just missed the podium on the balance beam as she was 11th with a score of 8.85. Dudek finished in 32nd overall (D1) for her first appearance on the beam at States.
Calhoun scored a 9.5. in floor exercise, the second highest of all time for any gymnast in Cardinal history. She finished the day as the Division 2 Runner-Up on the Floor Exercise and earned All-State honors.
Dudek earned 8.475 points for her routine and finished 29th in the state for Division 1. Coach Kim Nichols said, “It was a hard way to finish the day, but she had such stellar performances throughout the meet, you have to be ecstatic with the overall results. I think she will just be that much more hungry for bars next year and she will set her goals even higher. As it is, she is the most decorated gymnast we have had in a decade.”
Calhoun was fourth on the vault and earned All-State honors with a score of 9.275.
Calhoun also earned All-State honors on the uneven bars as she was third with a score of 8.65. Dudek introduced two new skills into her routine for her final gymnastics appearance on her signature event. She finished 17th with a score of 8.4 points.
In the All-Around competition, Calhoun was named the 2023 Division 2 Runner Up with a tally of 36.275 points. She narrowly missed the title (-0.375 points) that went to Grand Ledge’s Lydia Beeton, who collected 36.65 points. Grand Ledge’s Alaina Yaney claimed the Division 1 title with her All-Around total of 38.075 points.
Nichols said, “The fact that Coldwater is in the running for a State Championship All-Around title is simply incredible. I’m so proud of Charlotte’s efforts this year. She is an amazing young person, both on and off the mat. She is certainly a winner in my book!”
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