Chief gymnasts thrive at Individual
State Meet; Canton 4th in team event
March 15, 2010,
5:30 p.m.
The Canton gymnastics team's
incredible 2009-10 season ended on a high note at this past weekend's
MHSAA State Meet, which was hosted by Rockford High School.
The Chiefs placed fourth in the team event with a score of
145.000 and six gymnasts fared well in Saturday's individual
competition.
The highlight of the weekend unfolded when freshman Alex Fideler
placed first in the Division 1 balance beam competition. Fideler became
the first Chief since Alyssa Kelley in 2006 -- and only the third in
school history -- to win an individual state title when she registered
a 9.650 on the beam.
Katey Gilles also won individual titles on vault and in the
all-around in 1995.
Fideler's fine showing on the balance beam led to her
fifth-place finish in the all-around with a score of 37.450. She was
15th on the vault (9.250), sixth on the uneven bars (9.350) and tied
for 10th in the floor-exercise competition with a score of 9.2.
Robyn Piwowar also sparkled for the Chiefs in Division 1,
placing ninth in the all-around with a score of 36.900. Piwowar placed
third on the vault (9.60), 22nd on the uneven bars (8.475), eighth on
the beam (9.40) and tied for fifth on the floor (9.425).
Two Chiefs placed among the top 20 all-arounders in Division 2:
Sophomore Ayana Lewis was fourth (36.875) while senior Mallory Hudak
placed 16th with 34.900 points. Salem's Nicole Jacobs earned a
21st-place standing with 33.975 points.
Lewis was fifth on the vault (9.30), eighth on the uneven bars
(8.825), tied for fifth on the beam (9.375) and fourth on the vault
(9.375).
Hudak was eighth on the floor (9.275), 14th on the beam (8.950)
and tied for 19th on the uneven bars.
Also placing for Canton were Kali Pierce (22nd on floor) and
Brook Granowicz (ninth on the beam).
Jacobs placed 15th on the beam (8.925), 36th on floor (8.275)
and 18th on vault (9.050).
The Chiefs placed fourth in Friday's team event, earning 145.000
points. Grand Ledge won the state title with 150.225 to outdistance
runner-up Farmington (149.100) and third-place Troy Athens (148.225).
Piwowar led the Chiefs' charge up the standings with an
all-around effort of 36.6. Lewis compiled a stellar total of 34.725.
