NEW PALESTINE — Head coach Deb Bruns thinks it could boil down to one event — balance beam.
Having a solid routine and staying on the apparatus that is just four inches in width could be the ticket to a trip to the state finals in Muncie.
New Palestine’s gymnastics team will compete in regional competition for the 10th time in the last 11 years at the Columbus East Regional, Saturday. The Dragons are looking for their first berth into the state finals since 2015.
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To get to the state finals, as a team, New Palestine must finish among the top three, which includes sectional champions No.4 Columbus North and No. 10 Richmond along with the remaining qualifiers, No. 16 New Castle, Bloomington North and host Columbus East.
Last Saturday, the Dragons finished second to Richmond at the Connersville Sectional, ahead of third-place New Castle. The Dragons’ score of 104.550 was a season-high and third best among the six teams that will compete at East High School.
Bruns said the sectional champions should take the top two spots, but the third and final qualifying position could go to any of the remaining four, including her Dragons.
“It could be any one of the four,” Bruns said. “It’s going to come down to the balance beam. It’s all about the beam.”
The beam is considered by many to be the most challenging event. Staying on it can be difficult during any routine. That balance could be the key in moving on to the state finals.
When the competition is so close, deduction points on falls can be crucial.
“Our beam scores have been consistent and we have been staying on the beam consistently,” Bruns added.
New Palestine scored 26.4 on beam at sectional. It was the second best score in Connersville and third best sectional score among the teams that are competing at Columbus East.
New Palestine senior Grace Shanahan is coming of a sectional title in the event. She won beam with a score of 9.250. Sophomore teammate Kennedy Garrett was third with a 9.00.
Shanahan was third all-around (35.9) at the sectional, as well as, third on bars (8.8). Garrett added a third on floor exercise (9.15).
The Dragons have done their best work on floor. Garrett, Shanahan and Addie Halter all finished in the top six in the event last Saturday.
Their score of 27.2, as a team, was best at Connersville and is the second best sectional score of teams at the regional.
“We need to repeat what we did (at the sectional),” Bruns said.
The top three teams from each regional will advance to the March 14 IHSAA Gymnastics State Finals at Worthen Arena on the campus of Ball State University in Muncie.
Along with Columbus East, there are regionals at Huntington North and Portage.
Individuals not on one of the qualifying teams can also advance. The top six place winners in each event advance along with the top six place winners in the all-around competition.
Also, all gymnasts who receive the score of the sixth place gymnast at the previous state finals meet (Vault — 9.575; Beam 9.325; Bars 9.45; Floor 9.525; All-Around 37.225) will have a spot in Muncie.
New Palestine’s Emily Heighway qualified as an individual in 2017 on bars.
“The girls want to go to state, but we want to keep it fun and keep the pressure off,” Bruns said.
