Wawasee Gymnasts Spring To Another Win
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LIGONIER – There were no springs in the floor at West Noble High School, but there was a spring in the step of the Wawasee gymnastics team on Tuesday night. The Warriors had to adjust their routines a bit being away from the comfort of their home floor but ultimately Wawasee did not miss a beat. Several Warriors set personal bests in what would be a 96.33-72.9 victory.
The biggest challenge for Wawasee Tuesday night was the difference of the floor at West Noble compared to the one the Warriors are used to practicing on back in Syracuse. The Warriors are used to having the benefit of a spring floor underneath them for performances, but the floor at West Noble is more old school, so, no springs.
“It’s apples and oranges,” said Wawasee head coach Nika Prather of the difference in floors. “When you haven’t been able to practice on that kind of surface, it can be really hard to adjust. We took a few things out of some of the routines tonight but overall the girls handled it pretty well.”
The Warriors took the top three spots on the floor. Emily Allen led Wawasee with an 8.65. Taylor Busse took second with a 7.95. Jade Skelton finished third with a 7.8, the highest placing of her young career.
Personal milestones were set by other Warriors as well. Ashleigh Frecker and Deea Coy both set personal bests with their scores on floor while Coy, Allen and Haleigh Smarr all had personal bests on the uneven bars.
Allen’s 8.175 on the bars was good enough to get her top honors in the event. Busse took second with a 7.65 and Molly Smith finished in third with a 6.75.
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On the beam Wawasee would again take the top three spots. Taylor Busse stole the show with her performance that earned the junior an 8.6. Allen (7.95) and Smith (7.15) claimed second and third again, respectively.
Wawasee dominated the vault results on Tuesday, taking the top five spots. Again it was Allen taking top honors with an 8.65.
In the all-around category, it was Wawasee that reigned supreme yet again, taking the top three spots. Allen led the way with her score of 33.425. Busse finished in second with a 32.75. Smith took third place honors with a 29.7 and West Noble’s Amanda Huntsman finished fourth with a 27.45.
While Wawasee (2-1) did not have to sweat too much this Tuesday, next Tuesday may be different as the Warriors travel south to take on Warsaw.
“We have to keep working hard if we want to beat Warsaw,” said Prather. “I believe they are scoring in the mid-90’s just like we are so it should be a great meet, as it usually is. We just have to stay focused. We hit 96 tonight and that was exactly what we aimed for before the meet and with a few less falls on beam, we would’ve cracked 100. We just have to keep working at it.”
Wawasee and Warsaw are set to start competition at 6 p.m. next Tuesday night at Warsaw High School.
In the JV ranks, Skelton took top honors in vault with a 7.85, Smarr led the floor with a 6.95 and Coy scored a 7.3 on the beam. Neither JV team participated on bars.




