The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
State-bound Chardon overcoming setbacks
Hilltoppers qualify while best performer battles injury, two others in car wreck day before district
Kasey Eichele knows what it’s like to face adversity and win.
As a gymnast at Chardon High School in 2012, Eichele, then a sophomore, and teammate Mariah Gray were among the first athletes at the school to return to competition following the fatal shootings that took place at the high school five days prior. Both participated in the 2012 state gymnastics meet as individual qualifiers.
Now, albeit on a much, much smaller scale, Eichele is watching the Hilltoppers brush aside adversity and again make history.
Eichele, just 20, is in her third year as Chardon’s coach. At the
West Geauga District on Feb. 25, the Hilltoppers were fourth in the team standings, good enough to earn them a spot in the team competition at the March 3 state meet in Columbus. Individual competition is March 4.
It’s the third gymnastics team in school history to qualify for state, since back-to-back appearances in 2006 and 2007. Getting there wasn’t easy.
The team’s best performer, junior Kayla Benjamin, still isn’t 100 percent, recovering from a serious knee injury sustained last season. She’s been gutting it out since her return last November.
Benjamin’s return has inspired her coach and teammates, but there’s more.
In a town that’s dealt with enough tragedy to last a lifetime, it’s athletic community was dealt a fortunate hand on Feb. 24.
Teammates Lily Baker and Chloe Budd were in a serious car accident the day before the district meet.
Baker’s car was totaled, and that impact left her with injuries that could have been worse.
Baker and Budd were taken to an area hospital. Doctors feared Baker had a broken collarbone, and her legs were badly bruised.
Amazingly, both suited up the next day and helped Chardon advance to the state meet. Without Baker and Budd, it wouldn’t have been possible.
“We’re just so thankful they were OK,” said Eichele, whose team rushed from practice to the hospital that day when they received word.
Eichele remembers vividly the day she and Gray competed at the 2012 state meet and what it meant to the Chardon community.
Baker and Budd shaking off a scary situation, as well as bumps and bruises, for their team was big, said Eichele.
“Gymnasts are just a different breed,” said the Chardon coach. “Gymnastics teaches you to push through, and it builds character.”
Pushing through is what Baker and Benjamin have done this season.
For Baker, it was a painful decision the morning of the district meet to compete.
“I could barely get out of bed Saturday morning,” said Baker, who qualified as an individual on vault and beam. “But I knew this was our chance to get to state as a team.”
As for Benjamin, her coach has been amazed all season.
“Once she was cleared by her doctor, Kayla was totally focused,” said Eichele. “I knew she would be back, but I knew it wouldn’t be easy for her. Her knee still bothers her.”
Benjamin was sixth on bars at district with a 9.050. She also advanced on floor and all-around.