The Worthington Trojans Gymnastic team competed in their fourth consecutive state meet on Saturday, February 24 at Maturi Pavillion on the campus of the U. of M. They finished in eighth place with a 141.075, their best score at the state meet. Last year they scored 138.7. Coach Joni Reitmeier and the girls were very excited and pleased with their finish.
Here is a brief explanation of how scoring works: Each event has 5 girls compete. MSHL rules require one all around on each team, otherwise different girls can do each event. Each gymnast starts from a 10.0 for an event. Throughout the routine, the judges deduct points – tenths, and even hundredths for mistakes in execution. Gymnasts receive separate marks for degree of difficulty and for execution in each event. Once the routine is over, the final score is tallied and the result is posted. The top 4 scores are taken to get the team score.
The competition started with the floor routines. With a team score of 36.650, the Trojans were tied for 6th. Next was the vault and they scored a 36.65. Their third event was the uneven parallel bars where the girls scored a 33.275. Gracia Elias a ninth grader from Adrian, had Worthington’s best routine and scored a 8.675. She did an outstanding job for the team, especially since at the state meet scoring is tougher. Their last and final event was the balance beam. They scored a 35.775. Gracia also shined on the balance beam scoring a 9.350 and again turning in Worthington’s best score.
There are 27 girls on the Worthington gymnastics team this year. Gracia does all around for Worthington along with Taylor Eggers (junior) and Maria Contreras (freshman). Gracia is fortunate to make the varisty team and is even more fortunate to compete as an all around. Autumn Drahota (junior) of Adrian was an alternate on the state team. Annika Elias (junior), also from Adrian, is on the JV team. Junior Nygyun, the assistant coach, lives in Adrian.
After the state meet a State Gymnastics offical talked to Gracia. He was so impressed with her Beam Routine. She did a no-handed somersault into a back extension roll. Very few girls do that complex of a skill and Gracia nailed it during the team competition. Only one other girl did a similar skill and she was on a AA team.
Gracia Elias received All Conference, All State Honorable Mention on Bars and All State Honorable Mention on the Vault. All Conference is an overall point system. It is not based on any single event. What a great season for Gracia!
Even though the season is officially over, the team will continue to practice in anticipation of another year of competition. Congratulations to the Trojan’s gymnastic team!
