Olentangy Berlin team looks dominant entering state meet
Olentangy Berlin gymnastics coach Jen Hedrick believes her program, coming off a dominating performance at the district meet, has what it takes to be the first Central District team to win a state title since 1995, when Upper Arlington (142.1) edged Thomas Worthington (140.625) for the championship.
Brecksville-broadview Heights has won 19 consecutive state titles and 22 overall. However, Berlin's score of 148.85 on Saturday set program and meet records and topped Brecksville's first-place effort (147.95) in the Northeast District meet.
“This team has the potential,” Hedrick said. “It should be a good show at the state meet. All these gymnasts are so talented and motivated. I know they will bring their A-game.”
Berlin captured its third consecutive district title, easily outdistancing runner-up Dublin Jerome (140.8), which will join the Bears at the team state meet Friday at Hilliard Bradley.
In its fifth season, Berlin will be competing in its fourth consecutive team state meet. Last year, the Bears tied Rocky River Magnificat for sixth (142.6) behind champion Brecksville (147.5).
Jerome advanced to its fifth consecutive team state meet and sixth overall by edging Olentangy Liberty (140.05), Olentangy (139.55), Dublin Coffman (137.85) and Olentangy Orange (137.45) for the district's other qualifying spot.
Also at district, the top eight finishers in each event and the all-around advanced to the individual state meet Saturday at Bradley.
Berlin freshman Tayten Swain won the all-around (38.0), ahead of junior teammate Alexandra Downing (37.2).
Swain also won floor exercise (9.8) and vault (9.65), and Downing finished first on uneven bars (9.45) and balance beam (9.375).
Swain was introduced to gymnastics when she was 3 and began competing
seriously at 6. She excelled at the club level for Gym X-treme Gymnastics in Lewis Center but left the sport after sixth grade because of mental fatigue.
She was home-schooled through sixth grade, training in gymnastics about 30 hours per week.
“It was a lot when I was younger and because of all of it, I just started to have mental blocks and skills weren't going my way,” Swain said. “Stopping at the time was definitely the best decision and taking that break.”
She decided to return to the sport before her freshman year at Berlin.
“After taking two and a half years off from gymnastics and coming back, it's just very exciting,” Swain said. “Our team is like a family, so having all their support always helps at all the meets. It's super exciting to be back in the gym and the season is going this well.”
Swain already holds program records for floor (9.8), vault (9.75), beam (9.5) and all-around (38.3). Downing has the program record on bars (9.45).
“(Swain's success) doesn't surprise me,” Hedrick said. “I knew she was good, but I didn't realize how good she was because when I first met her, she had been out for two years. I told her to come into the gym, try some stuff. When I first saw her in the gym, she would do
things well, but until I had her this season and I started seeing full routines, I had no idea how incredible she was.”
Central Ohio gymnasts who will compete in the individual state meet at Hilliard Bradley (in order of district finish):
● All-around: Tayten Swain, Olentangy Berlin; Alexandra Downing, Berlin; Lilly Gibbs, Hilliard Bradley; Stephanie Balthaser, Berlin; Hailee Cobb, Olentangy Liberty; Tia Estrada, Berlin; Abby Killilea, Hilliard Darby; Konyinsola Sofowora, Dublin Jerome
● Bars: Downing; Jade Gerhard, Olentangy Orange; Gibbs; Estrada; Balthaser; Swain; Kalyn Davis, Berlin; Cobb
● Beam: Downing; Swain; Gillian Beilstein, Orange; Gibbs; Killilea; Camryn Thompson, Liberty; Averey Jervis, Bradley; Carly Mckenzie, Dublin Scioto
● Floor: Swain; Downing; Balthaser; Gibbs; Estrada; Ella Cooper, Jerome; Cobb; Sofowora
● Vault: Swain; Autumn Fitzgerald, Marion Harding; Balthaser; Gerhard; Estrada; Molly Hayes, Jerome; Cobb; Aubree Norbuta, Olentangy fdirenna@dispatch.com @Dispatchfrank