By RICHIE HALL
The best gymnasts in Indiana will be flipping their way to The Mill in March.
Noblesville High School will host the IHSAA gymnastics state finals next school year, which is scheduled for March 9, 2019. The organization approved Noblesville as the state host at its Executive Committee meeting this past April 30.
Ball State University has been hosting the meet for the past several years, but is unable to do so this coming year due to a scheduling conflict. The IHSAA contacted Noblesville High School about hosting early in the spring for a one-year deal, and Noblesville accepted.
“It’s definitely great to know that the IHSAA has the confidence in us that we can assist them in putting a tournament the magnitude of a State Championship,” said NHS athletic director Leah Wooldridge.
The Millers are looking forward to being the host – especially gymnastics head coach Jody Ramey.
“I’m stoked,” said Ramey. “I think it’s going to be an awesome thing. I’m sure some of the teams might be a little bit disappointed because its going back into a high school versus Ball State University. Ball State does such a great job of hosting.”
The IHSAA has been conducting gymnastics state tournaments since 1973; it’s one of the first girls sports that saw competition under the auspices of the organization. The state finals were hosted by North Central for the first five years (1973-77), then had a long run at Perry Meridian, from 1978 to 2010. In fact, Noblesville competed at state as a team for the first time at Perry Meridian, back in 2008.
In 2011, the state finals were moved to Ball State. The Millers have competed there as well: Katherine and Constance Chininis were all-around qualifiers in 2013, while Katherine Chininis made it back in the vault event in 2014.
Ramey said she feels honored that the IHSAA saw Noblesville as a site that could host such a big event. She said it makes since because it is a centralized location from the three regional sites (Valparaiso, Huntington North and Connersville).
“I think it’s great for our program,” said Ramey. The coach said she would be contacting former gymnasts, asking them for help supporting the team and helping out if needed.
“It’s going to give us some press, which is great,” said Ramey.
While gymnastics teams have been declining across Indiana over the past several years, many programs are thriving, including Noblesville. Several new schools have also come on board with individual competitors; in fact, Assistant Commissioner Sandra Walter indicated at the IHSAA’s April 30 meeting that there will be one new gymnastics team next school year.
The Millers are coming off a great season of their own in 2018. Noblesville finished fourth at the difficult Lafayette Jefferson sectional, topping the 100-point mark for the first time in four years. Makayla Kauzlick, then a freshman, placed sixth in the balance beam and vault events, qualifying for the Valparaiso regional as an individual in both events.
Ramey believes that the state meet taking place at Noblesville will be extra incentive for her gymnasts to do well this upcoming season.
“I do think there is hope for individuals to get out and go to state,” said Ramey.
The Noblesville gymnastics team will have extra incentive in the 2019 post-season: Noblesville High School is hosting the IHSAA gymnastics state finals next school year. The state meet will take place at The Mill on March 9, 2019; NHS agreed to host the meet when regular host Ball State University was unable to do so due to a scheduling conflict. (Photo provided)