EHS gymnastics squad places 3rd behind Newton, Hutchinson
By Michael Ashford
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
A shorthanded Emporia High gymnastics team competed Monday at the Hutchinson invitational, finishing behind first-place Newton (96.65 points) and Hutchinson (93.10) with 83.05 points.
Spartans senior Libby England was only able to compete in one event, the vault, because of a lifting accident at school. Coach Barbara Clark said England was in a weights class when she attempted a hang clean, but brought the bar up too quickly, and hit herself on the chin.
The injury left England with a cut on her chin.
“She only got one event in, but she’s a trooper,” Clark said. “She was in quite a bit of pain, but she got through her event. Her points would have helped us, because she is usually our main all-around performer.”
In the vault, England finished with a score of 7.6, which left her just outside of placing.
While Emporia High was without England’s services for the rest of the night, several other Spartans managed to come through with big performances.
Senior Stephanie Ternes and junior Tarra Nichols were the top competitors in several events for the Spartans. Nichols finished second in the uneven bars with 8.05 points while Ternes finished with 7.65 points, good for fifth.
“That was good to see from Stephanie,” Clark said. “She was a lot cleaner in her performances, and she had fewer deductions.”
On the balance beam, Nichols came in sixth with a score of 7.4 while Ternes got a second-place showing of her own, as she came in with a score of 8.05. Kayla Baker (5.9) and Mercedes Davis (4.5) also competed on the bars.
In the vault, the Spartans’ lone placer was Nichols, who came in fourth with a score of 8.2. England, Ternes (7.0) and Madison Reiber (5.70) also competed.
In the last individual event, the floor exercise, Nichols finished with a 7.6, Jenny Loucks scored a 7.7 to finish sixth and Ternes finished with a 7.9, good for fifth.
The Spartans’ top finisher in the all-around competition was Nichols, who finished third with a score of 31.25. Ternes also placed, finishing sixth with 30.60 points.
The Spartans had not held a practice since their last competition last Thursday, but Clark said she was pleased with what improvement her squad did show despite the lack of time spent in the gym between performances.
“I’m really impressed with the changes we made in our routines just from watching film and listening to the judge’s score comments,” Clark said. “After (Monday), the girls are anxious to get in the gym and really improve.
“They want to get better and are really making an effort, and that makes me feel really good.”
Next action for the Emporia High gymnastics team is at 6 p.m. Sept. 21 when the Spartans play host to Shawnee Mission East, Shawnee Mission North and Shawnee Mission West in the Emporia Invitational.