Friday, March 02, 2001
State gymnastics preview
Turpin's Scheeren hopes for medal
By Dave Schutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
When it comes to gymnastics at the state level, Cincinnati athletes have been at a disadvantage.
This is the result of Central and Northern Ohio gymnasts training with clubs 10 months through January before joining the high school teams in early February.
Again this season, defending state champion Brecksville, Mentor, Rocky River Magnificat, Dublin Scioto and Columbus DeSales are expected to compete for the state team title today (3 p.m.) at Dublin Coffman High School.
Anderson and Centerville will represent Southwestern Ohio in the 12-team competition with a host of others set to compete in the individual competition at 9 a.m. Saturday.
“None of our girls are members of a gymnastics club,” Anderson coach Stacey Neumann said. “It's been this way since I took over the program six years ago.”
Although Anderson has no chance to win the state title, Neumann's team will try to match or improve on last year's eighth-place finish.
“The team competition is the toughest,” Neumann said. “I've seen most of the teams and the one I'm most impressed with the most is Columbus DeSales. They are very talented.”
Juniors Kristin Doidge (bars, beam) and Janice Gillis (vault) are Anderson's most talented gymnasts, both qualifying for the individual competition.
Gillis scored an 8.775 to win the district championship in the vault and has a chance to place at state, while Doidge is a long shot in the bars and beam competition.
Turpin's Sara Scheeren, the winner of the district championship in the floor exercises and third in the vault, might have the best chance to bring home a medal.
“Sara has gone to state the past two years and is capable of scoring a 9.2 or 9.3 which would put her in the top 10,” Turpin coach Gail Maundrell said.
Mason's Lauren Haar is another performer who could score well at state.
A two-time state qualifier, Haar won the district title in the all-around with a score of 35.350, was fourth in the vault, sixth in the bars and second in the beam.
“Lauren came to us last year burned out and negative because of the club team (Queen City Gymnastics),” Mason coach Donna Griffith said.
“I wondered if she would stay. Today, she is a gamer and wants to do her best and win. She's an outstanding tumbler and the floor exercises are her strength.”
Haar finished fourth at the state meet in the all-around last year.
Next year a rule will be instituted by the Ohio High School Athletic Association limiting coaches to 10 days with the athletes during July and August.
Most of the Columbus and Cleveland coaches also are coaches for the club teams where the gymnasts practice year-round. This will be prohibited in the future.
Other Cincinnati gymnasts qualifying as individuals are Stephanie Bentley, Lakota West (vault, beam, floor exercises) Emma Sartini, Lakota West (bars) and Shubha Singh, Sycamore (floor exercises).
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State gymnastics preview
