Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc.

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 17, 2007

 

 

LAWRENCE CENTRAL CAPTURES FIRST GYMNASTICS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Fueled by a pair of freshmen top 10 performers in the All-Around competition, Lawrence Central claimed its first state championship in the 35th Annual IHSAA Gymnastics State Finals at Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis.

 

Jessie Leko and Camille Hayes finished fourth and ninth, respectively, in the All-Around spurring the Bears to a total of 111 points and denying Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger its third consecutive championship. The Saints ended with 110.425 for runner-up honors marking the seventh time in the last 10 years they’ve finished among the top two teams. Last year’s runner-up Center Grove placed third at 110.2.

 

Lawrence Central’s championship was the first by a non-northern Indiana school since Columbus East won the title in 1990 and the first by an Indianapolis-area school since Perry Meridian in 1982.

 

Leko accumulated 37.3 points on the day including a second place finish in the uneven bars and a fifth place in the balance beam. Hayes totaled 36.9 points after finishing fourth in the vault and fifth in the floor exercise. Senior teammate Rachel Hilgendorf finished 21st in the All-Around with 35.8 while classmate Kelsey Kottkamp placed 28th at 34.4. Lawrence Central was coached by Michelle Post.

 

Center Grove sophomore Katelyn Fernandes collected the All-Around championship with 38.125 points, including her second straight title in the vault after a performance that earned her a 9.7.

 

Jeanna Van Hoey, the 2005 All-Around champion, finished as the runner-up to Fernandes for overall honors with 37.7, but she also carried away her fourth individual state title in three years. The Bishop Dwenger junior had also won the last two years in the uneven bars.

 

This year that honor went to Fort Wayne Concordia freshman Brannon Springer after a 9.675 showing. Another Concordia freshman, Hannah Osborn won the floor exercise competition with a 9.725.

 

35th Annual IHSAA Gymnastics State Finals

March 17, 2007

Perry Meridian High School, Indianapolis

 

Final Team Scores

1.

Lawrence Central

111.000

2.

Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger

110.425

3.

Center Grove

110.200

4.

Chesterton

109.625

5.

Carmel

109.425

6.

Valparaiso

109.250

7.

Columbus North

108.950

8.

Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran

108.500

 

State Champions

Vault – Katelyn Fernandes, 10, Center Grove, 9.7.

Uneven Bars – Brannon Springer, 9, Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, 9.675.

Balance Beam – Jeanna Van Hoey, 11, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, 9.7.

Floor Exercise – Hannah Osborn, 9, Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, 9.725.

All-Around – Katelyn Fernandes, 10, Center Grove, 38.125.

 

 

CROWN POINT’S MARTINA BUCHHOLZ WINS MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD

Members of the IHSAA Executive Committee selected Martina Buchholz of Crown Point High School as this year’s winner of the Mildred M. Ball Mental Attitude Award.

 

Buchholz, who was nominated by her principal and coach, was determined to have best demonstrated mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability among all seniors during the meet.

 

She has earned a 3.58 GPA to this point and has been named to the Academic All-State Team in gymnastics. She also has participated in track and field for the Bulldogs.

 

Beyond athletics, Buchholz is involved in National Honor Society, a member of the Girls Varsity Club, Spanish Club, Latin Club, a Cancer Walk participant, and many other endeavors helping members of the Crown Point community. She has also volunteered as a gymnastics assistant coach at Crown Point Middle School.

 

She plans to continue her studies at Purdue University next fall.

 

Buchholz is the daughter of Howard and Susan Buchholz of Crown Point.

 

Following the meet, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of all IHSAA tournament events, presented a check for $1,000 in the name of Buchholz to Crown Point High School.

 

The mental attitude award is named in honor of the former IHSAA assistant commissioner who served the Association from 1977 to 1997. During her career, Ball administered the state gymnastics tournament among other sports and also oversaw the licensing and training of all contest officials in the state of Indiana.

 

 

VSN MEANS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY

Visit our friends at Visual Sports Network, the IHSAA’s official photographer for all state championship events and one of the leading action photographers in the Midwest. VSN, which was on site Saturday, has captured hundreds of images from this year’s State Finals and will have them ready for viewing and purchase beginning Monday.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP MERCHANDISE STILL AVAILABLE

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 there 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, have your Visa or MasterCard ready and call us at 317-846-6601 during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. EST).