CHESTERTON | Hannah Erwin said she felt tight during her beam routine Saturday afternoon, but the Valparaiso senior gymnast felt better once she she saw her score.
"I was very satisfied with what I did," she said.
Erwin tied for second in the event with a 9.6 and played a pivotal role in the state No. 4-ranked Vikings' 10th consecutive Chesterton Sectional title.
She finished second in all-around (38.125), third on floor (9.6) fourth on bars (9.475) and fifth on vault (9.45), helping the Vikings post a season- and state-best 113.95.
Teammate Morgan Algozine, the defending state all-around champion, won all-around (38.15), bars (9.75), floor (9.7) and vault (9.8). She also had two falls on beam and finished 20th (8.9).
Valparaiso's Erwin, Emily Crosmer (fifth, 9.55) and Rushelle Miller (10th, 9.1) picked up the slack for Algozine in the team's third event.
"We have a lot of depth backing us up," Erwin said. "After each event, you get more motivated and it keeps going."
The Vikings had two top-six individuals in every event, including three on their last rotation (floor). They scored 28.825 there to rally past Portage.
"One person doesn't make a team," Valparaiso coach Lorie Cook said. "Every kid did a great job for us."
Top-ranked Portage finished second, but they also posted a season-best score (112.8). Senior Mackenzie Barcelli won beam (9.65) and she was third in all-around (38.15). Teammates Danielle Solis (37.5) and Madison Kurtz (37.175) placed fifth and sixth, respectively.
The Indians led after three rotations, but faltered on bars (27.025). Despite the lower score on bars, coach Karen Barcelli feels her team is improving and ready for Friday's Valparaiso Regional.
"We still haven't had a perfect meet," coach Barcelli said, "and the girls are striving for that. We just don't want to place anymore, we want to win."
A week after finishing fourth at the Duneland Athletic Conference meet, No. 7 Crown Point rebounded and captured the final regional qualifying spot (108.775). Freshman Hannah Best was the team's only top-six finisher, tying for fifth on vault (9.45).
"(Regional) is our state meet," Bulldogs coach Ami Pysh said. "It's an honor for us to be there."
Morgan Township freshman Kylee Maxwell overcame some early jitters to finish fourth in all-around (37.55), second on bars (9.625) and third on vault (9.75).
"It was scary," Maxwell said. "I didn't know it would be as intense as it was. It just kept building."
Please Wait…
