Indiana High School Athletic Association

9150 North Meridian Street, Box 40650, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240-0650

Phone: 317-846-6601    Fax: 317-575-4244    Website: www.ihsaa.org

Blake Ress, Commissioner

____________________________________________________________________

 

March 19, 2005

 

Freshman All-Around winner Jeanna Van Hoey leads Bishop Dwenger to Title

Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger recorded its second IHSAA Gymnastics championship in three years and its third overall with a tight victory over runner-up Lawrence Central at the 33rd Annual IHSAA Gymnastics State Finals at Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis on Saturday.  Coach Rose Nix’ Saints became the sixth team to win at least three state gymnastics title, tying Chesterton and Connersville for fourth place on the all-time list.  Dwenger registered a 29.05 effort on the vault for the best score of the day to carry it to victory.

 

Van Hoey became the first freshman to win the IHSAA all-around crown since Angie Cook of Valparaiso in 1992-93 and she joins Laura Szczepanski (1994-95 and 1995-96) as an all-around champion from Dwenger.  Van Hoey won the uneven bars with a 9.55 score and she reached the awards podium (top-six finish) in all five events.  The talented rookie finished third on the vault and sixth on the beam and the floor exercise.

 

Lawrence Central junior Ashley Jacob won her second individual event state championship with an outstanding 9.900 in the vault.  She had won the uneven bars as a freshman in 2002-03.  Jacob finished third in the all-around competition (37.800) to lead coach Michelle Annee’s second-ranked Bears to their second state runner-up finish.

 

Center Grove senior Natalie Hesler prevailed in the floor exercise with a 9.75 score.  She finished second in the all-around competition (37.800) and on the uneven bars (9.55), receiving the Mildred M. Ball Mental Attitude Award following the meet.  Coach Eric Howe’s top-ranked Trojans placed third in the meet.

 

Hobart junior Megan Cherry gave the Brickies their second straight champion on the balance beam with a 9.375 effort.  Cherry suffered a meet-ending knee injury in her third event at the state finals.  Injured Hobart sophomore Kara Morton had been the 2004 balance beam titlist for the ’04 state-champion Brickies.

 

Final Team Scores

1. Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger          112.825

2. Lawrence Central                           112.475

3. Center Grove                                 110.625

4. Valparaiso                                    107.950    

5. Crown Point                                  107.750

6. Fort Wayne Northrop                     106.725

7. New Palestine                               105.700

8. McCutcheon                                 101.275    

 

State Champions

Vault – Ashley Jacob, 11, Lawrence Central, 9.900

Uneven Bars – Jeanna Van Hoey, 9, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, 9.550

Balance Beam – Megan Cherry, 11, Hobart, 9.375

Floor Exercise – Natalie Hesler, 12, Center Grove, 9.750

All-Around – Jeanna Van Hoey, 9, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, 38.025

 

Center Grove’s Natalie Hesler wins Mildred M. Ball Mental Attitude Award

Central Grove senior Natalie Hesler is the 2004-05 recipient of the Mildred M. Ball Mental Attitude Award for girls’ gymnastics as selected by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee.  Hesler won the floor exercise (9.750) and was second in the all-around (37.800) and the uneven bars (9.550).

 

Hesler is a three-time all-state performer who made her fourth consecutive trip to the state finals in 2005.  She finished second in the all around, beam and floor exercise, fourth on the bars, and sixth on the vault as a junior in 2004.  Hesler placed fourth on the beam as a sophomore in 2003 and fourth in the all-around as a freshman in 2002.

 

Hesler ranks 35th in a senior class of 436 at Center Grove with a 3.76 cumulative grade point average.  She has earned Academic All-State, National Honor Society, and National Honor Roll recognition.

 

Hesler volunteers at Center Grove Middle School and serves as a peer tutor.

 

“Natalie is an outstanding student dedicated to academic excellence,” said Center Grove interim principal Matthew Shockley.  “Her academic success is a direct reflection of her intellect, work ethic, and ability to organize and prioritize her efforts.  Natalie is an outstanding young woman, model citizen, and a fine ambassador of Center Grove.  Adults have described her as humble, loyal, dedicated, hard-working, honest, thoughtful, and kind-hearted.”

 

Award recipients, nominated by their principals and coaches, must excel in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability in gymnastics.

 

The award is named in honor of Mrs. Ball, who served the IHSAA as an assistant commissioner from 1977 until her retirement in 1997.  Among her responsibilities were the licensing and training of officials and administering tournaments in gymnastics, golf, tennis, and soccer.  She also served on the Gymnastics Rules Committee and the Equity Committee of the National Federation of State High School Associations.

 

Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA corporate partner, presented a $1,000.00 scholarship to Center Grove High School in the name of Natalie Hesler.

 

Muncie’s Jane Murray Honored as Outstanding Official

Jane Murray, a licensed IHSAA gymnastics official now in her 27th year, is the 2005 recipient of the Interscholastic Officials Association Award for excellence in gymnastics.

 

Murray was honored in a special ceremony prior to the start of Saturday’s state finals.  She has worked 25 sectional meets, 23 regionals, and 15 state finals events.

 

Each year, the IHSAA, in cooperation with the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials Association, recognizes and honors an outstanding official in each of 11 sports during the school year.

 

Murray was nominated for this award by her peers representing the Magic City Officials Association, one of 26 associations located throughout the state.

 

Team Posters And Individual Action Photographs Available

Visit 20-20 Photographic, the IHSAA’s photographer and the Midwest’s Leader in Sports Action Photography, for images captured during Saturday’s state championship meet! Action photos as well as 20-20’s Ultimate Sports Poster will be available for purchase later in the week following the state finals.

 

IHSAA State Championship Merchandise

For t-shirts and other merchandise commemorating this year’s tournament or for any of our events, visit our friends at Morris, Inc.

 

State Finals Programs Available

Couldn’t be in Indy for the state finals? You can still purchase a copy of the official souvenir program while supplies last! Programs are $3.00 if you purchase in person at the IHSAA Office (9150 N. Meridian Street in Indianapolis) or $5.00 by mail (postage included). To order by credit card, have your Visa or MasterCard ready and call us at 317-846-6601 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. Or send a check for $5.00 made payable to the IHSAA, a note with your return address and brief description of your request and mail to: IHSAA Programs, PO Box 40650, Indianapolis, IN 46240-0650.

 

IHSAA Book, Play On Recaps 100 Years of High School Sports in Indiana

The exciting book, Play On, celebrating 100 years of high school sports in Indiana, is perfect for that sports fan or the history buff you know. Filled with 150 pages of engaging photographs, captivating stories and a walk down memory lane, it’s now on sale through the Indiana High School Athletic Association. It’s not available in book stores, so contact the IHSAA at 317-846-6601 or click on the link above to learn more about this special tribute to 100 years of Indiana high school athletics.