CHESTERTON | Crown Point's gymnastics team proved that consistency goes a long way as the Bulldogs continued to make themselves at home while on the road.
The Bulldogs got solid all-around performances from Hannah Best, Natalie Groff and Megan Supan as Crown Point won the Chesterton Invitational for the second time in 19 years on Saturday afternoon.
Crown Point also won the event in 2005 and is the only school besides Chesterton to win the invite since it began in 1995. The Bulldogs also won the LaPorte Invitational earlier this year.
“It was nice to come in here and win just like we did at LaPorte,” Supan said. “This gives us confidence as the season goes on. We all stepped up today and performed when we needed it.”
Supan had a pair of top-10 finishes in the Beam and Vault while freshmen teammate Hannah Best took fifth in the All-Around on the strength of three top-10 finishes. Groff had the highest individual finish for a Crown Point gymnast with a third-place mark in the Vault.
“We have three really good all-around performers and I knew it was a possibility that we could finish at the top,” Crown Point coach Ami Pysh said. “We have a lot of confidence right now and the rest of the team knows that if they want to stay up, we’ve got to add some more skills.”
Crown Point’s upset win over Chesterton overshadowed a dominant performance from Morgan Township freshman Kylee Maxwell. Performing without any other teammates, Maxwell took first place in Vault (9.8) and Bars (9.5) while capturing second in Beam (9.25) and third in Floor (9.55). Maxwell (38.1) edged out Chesterton’s Brandi Tuzinski (37.25) for the All-Around title.
“I was kind of nervous as this was one of the bigger events I’ve done,” Maxwell said. “I’ve been practicing well and the vault is my favorite event. I just did what I’ve been practicing.”
Tuzinski (9.4) took first place in the Beam while Washington Township senior Cassidy Feldsein (9.7) took home Floor honors.
Both Crown Point and Chesterton counted three falls among the final scores and the Bulldogs edged past the Trojans 105.95-105.5.
“I’m really proud of my girls,” Chesterton coach Lauren West said. “I’m happy that I’m starting to see the consistency. The scores could’ve been a little better, but the scores can always be better.”
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