IHSAA Gymnastics
1996-97 State Finals in Review
Valparaiso captured the team title and senior Amanda
Gwinnup of Lawrence North won the individual all-around title
in the 25th Annual IHSAA Gymnastics State Finals March 22, 1997
at Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis.
Gwinnup, competing in the state tournament series
for the first time, finished first in the uneven bars, second
in vaulting, third in the balance beam and tied for fourth in
the floor exercise to wrap up the all-around honor with 37.625
points. Finishing second overall was Valparaiso freshman Ellison
Tipton with 37.525 points. Tipton placed second in both the floor
exercise and balance beam.
Valparaiso, boosted by Aimee Melody's one-two finish
with Tipton in the floor exercise, outdistanced North Central
of Indianapolis for its fourth state championship and second in
four years with 111.225 points. The Vikings also won the crown
in 1981, 1991 and 1994. All came under the guidance of coach Lorie
Cook.
North Central accumulated 105.850 points, followed
by Homestead with 105.600 and Columbus East with 104.925.
Other than Gwinnup's title in the uneven bars, the
remaining individual titles all were claimed by freshmen. Heather
Blevins of Blue River Valley won the vaulting competition with
9.600 points; Rachel Goldberg of North Central won the balance
beam with 9.500 points; and Valparaiso's Melody won the floor
exercise with 9.650 points.
Rachel Nay of Columbus East High School was selected
by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the 1997 recipient of the
Mental Attitude Award in Girls Gymnastics. A four-year state finalist
in gymnastics, Nay was expected to compete for all-around honors
but was able to compete only in the balance beam after injuring
an ankle during the competition. Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate
partner of all IHSAA tournaments, presented a $1,000 scholarship
to Columbus East High School in Nay's name.
A total of 88 teams and 488 athletes began competition
at the sectional level.
The 25th Annual IHSAA Gymnastics State Finals
March 22, 1997
Perry Meridian High School, Indianapolis, Indiana
TEAM RESULTS
1. | Valparaiso | 111.225 |
2. | North Central (Indpls.) | 105.850 |
3. | Homestead | 105.600 |
4. | Columbus East | 104.925 |
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
All-Around -- 1. Amanda
Gwinnup, Lawrence North, 37.625; 2. Ellison Tipton, Valparaiso,
37.525; 3. Heather Blevins, Blue River Valley, 37.050; 4. Tiffany
Stewart, Portage, 36.875; 5. Kristen Hines, Homestead, 36.300;
6. Julie Houston, Columbus East, 36.225; 7. Lisa Walters, Chesterton,
35.975; 8. Rachel Goldberg, North Central (Indpls.), 35.800; 9.
Angel Pierce, Tri-Central, 35.800; 10. Samantha Duff, Homestead,
35.775.
Uneven Bars -- 1. Amanda
Gwinnup, Lawrence North, 9.475; 2. Tiffany Stewart, Portage, 9.450;
3. Mayumi Urgino, Valparaiso, 9.325; 4. Angel Pierce, Tri-Central,
9.300; 5. Jenny Shikany, Valparaiso, 9.200; 6. Julie Houston,
Columbus East, 9.175; 7. Ellison Tipton, Valparaiso, 9.100; 8.
Samantha Duff, Homestead, 9.025; 9. Kristen Hines, Homestead,
8.925; 10. Heather Blevins, Blue River Valley, 8.900.
Vault -- 1. Heather Blevins,
Blue River Valley, 9.600; 2. Amanda Gwinnup, Lawrence North, 9.550;
3. Lisa Fastero, Merrillville, and Jenny Shikany, Valparaiso,
9.500; 5. Gretchen Pikula, Valparaiso, 9.450; 6. Ellison Tipton,
Valparaiso, 9.400; 7. Samantha Duff, Homestead, and Angela Schipper,
Fort Wayne Dwenger, 9.350; 9. Aimee McQueen, Martinsville, and
Courtney Vojtasek, Logansport, 9.250.
Floor Exercise -- 1. Aimee
Melody, Valparaiso, 9.650; 2. Ellison Tipton, Valparaiso, and
Angela Schipper, Fort Wayne Dwenger, 9.600; 4. Amanda Gwinnup,
Lawrence North, Kristen Hines, Homestead, Heather Blevins, Blue
River Valley and Tiffany Stewart, Portage, 9.575; 8. Gretchen
Pikula, Valparaiso, 9.500; 9. Heidi Pulver, Fort Wayne North Side,
9.475; 10. Julie Houston, Columbus East, 9.450.
Balance Beam -- 1. Rachel
Goldberg, North Central (Indpls.), 9.500; 2. Ellison Tipton, Valparaiso,
9.425; 3. Amanda Gwinnup, Lawrence North, 9.025; 4. Heather Blevins,
Blue River Valley, 8.975; 5. Erin Jennings, Richmond, 8.950; 6.
Amy Leland, North Central (Indpls.), 8.900; 7. Kristen Hines,
Homestead, 8.850; 8. Erin Hibbert, Lafayette Jefferson, 8.725;
9. Tiffany Stewart, Portage, 8.700; 10. Courtney Vojtasek, Logansport,
8.700.