Berlin, Olentangy seek to upend champion
Central Ohio’s top gymnasts will vie for top honors in the state meet this weekend at Hilliard Bradley.
Olentangy Berlin and Olentangy will compete in the team meet beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday. The meet for individuals begins at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Here are five storylines heading into state:
1. Olentangy looking forward to return to state
The Braves were once a regular participant in the state meet, representing central Ohio in four consecutive seasons, beginning in 2015-16.
Those fortunes changed when Berlin opened in August 2018 and some Olentangy students started attending the new school. Olentangy’s last state appearance, a seventh-place finish, was in 2018-19.
The Braves scored 143.275 points in this year’s district meet, which Berlin won with a score of 146.85.
Freshman Audrey Sprouse led Olentangy in the all-around, placing 13th (35.7).
“I thought we had a chance (of qualifying for state as a team),” Sprouse said. “State is going to be a really great experience for us.”
2. Olentangy Berlin chasing state championship
Berlin will compete in its fifth consecutive state meet. The Bears won their fourth district title in a row and want to take the next step, earning their first state championship.
Seeking to stand in their way will be Brecksville-broadview Heights, which is seeking its 21st consecutive state title. They held off runner-up Berlin 148.825148.05 a year ago.
“The challenge isn’t about any other school,” Bears coach Jen Hedrick said. “The challenge is making sure the girls are prepared to mentally and physically go out and give their best.”
Sophomore Tayten Swain led Berlin at district, winning the all-around (38.3), balance beam (9.625), floor exercise (9.75) and vault (9.7) and finishing fifth on uneven bars (9.225). She was runner-up in the all-around at state last year.
3. Desales’ Fickell to make state debut
After a standout career at the club level, Desales senior Alex Fickell will make her state debut in her first season with the Stallions.
Fickell, who competed for Buckeye Gymnastics in Westerville, was second at district in the all-around (37.6), bars (9.325) and floor (9.5). She also tied for third on beam (9.425) and was fourth on vault (9.35).
“I miss club sometimes, but I’m definitely happy here in high school,” Fickell said. “I’m definitely excited for state. I’m going to put in a lot of work this week.”
The Stallions finished ninth (133.125) at district.
4. Olentangy Orange’s Gerhard looks for strong finish
Orange senior Jade Gerhard has qualified for state in the all-around and three events. At district, she was third in the all-around (37.2), third on vault (9.4), fourth on floor (9.375) and sixth on bars (9.175).
Last year at state, Gerhard tied for 10th on vault and tied for 11th on bars.
“Jade has worked so hard this season and she has come a long way as both an athlete and a leader,” coach Kaiden Sharrock said.
Orange finished fourth (139.25) at district.
5. Two Hilliard gymnasts qualify for state
Bradley’s Lilly Gibbs and Darby’s Abby Killilea will represent Hilliard at state in the all-around, bars and beam, and Gibbs also advanced on floor.
Gibbs won bars (9.425), placed fifth on floor (9.275), tied for eighth on beam (9.275) and finished fourth (36.925) in the all-around at district. Killilea was fourth on bars (9.3), tied for fifth on beam (9.4) and placed eighth (36.45) in the all-around.
In the team standings, Darby placed fifth (139.2), Bradley was eighth (134.125) and Davidson finished 12th (131.3).
Central Ohio gymnasts who will compete in the individual state meet (in order of district finish):
— All-around: Tayten Swain, Olentangy Berlin; Alex Fickell, Desales; Jade Gerhard, Olentangy Orange; Lilly Gibbs, Hilliard Bradley; Tia Estrada, Berlin; Alexandra Downing, Berlin; Konyinsola Sofowora, Dublin Jerome; Abby Killilea, Hilliard Darby
— Bars: Gibbs; Fickell; Estrada; Killilea; Swain; Gerhard; Downing; Audrey Sprouse, Olentangy
— Beam: Swain; Sprouse; Fickell; Downing; Killilea; Ava Kline, Olentangy; Paige Chen, Olentangy; Gibbs
— Floor: Swain; Fickell; Downing; Gerhard; Gibbs; Chen; Aubree Norbuta, Olentangy; Sofowora
— Vault: Swain; Autumn Fitzgerald, Marion Harding; Gerhard; Fickell; Estrada; Quinn Hammond, Dublin Coffman; Sofowora; Molly Hayes, Jerome