By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – In all high school sports, Senior Night is always worth celebrating.
The Noblesville gymnastics team had plenty of reasons to celebrate its two seniors, who were honored prior to the start of the Millers’ meet Wednesday evening at Noblesville East Middle School. Noblesville then went on to finish second in a three-team meet, marking its highest team score of the year with an 88.55.
Appropriately, the highest score and place of the meet went to a senior. Devyn Palmer took fifth in the floor exercise, scoring an 8.40 for her high-energy routine. She also competed in all four events, giving her an all-around score of 29.45. Palmer had been injured for the first half of the season, so she was back and ready to go.
“She is back in gear with all-around, so it was wonderful to see her perform all four events today,” said Millers coach Jody Ramey. “She did a great job.”
Noblesville’s other senior, Racheal Glasener, competed in the uneven bars and the vault, earning her high score of the night in the latter event with a 7.25. Ramey noted that Glasener has come a long way in three years on the team.
“This girl had never done the sport of gymnastics, ever, in her life prior to high school,” said Ramey. “That in itself is monumental. Most of the girls that do high school gymnastics have been doing gymnastics in some way, shape or form their whole life. And Rachel didn’t even know how to do a cartwheel by the time she got into high school.”
Noblesville had its highest team score on the vault, traditionally its strongest event. Palmer led the way there with an 8.275, while junior Olivia Mangin and freshman Kiley Reisner both scored 8.25s, giving the Millers a total of 24.775.
“This is Devyn’s first time back in the vault competition, so she was only doing a handspring vault today,” said Ramey. “Come Saturday, she’ll be back into the twisting vault, which should bump our team score back up to the 25 mark.”
Noblesville has three more meets left in the season, starting with Saturday’s participation in the Connersville Invitational. When asked if getting the team back into the 90s was an immediate goal, Ramey said it absolutely was.
“I think we’ll get there by sectionals,” said Ramey. “Unfortunately having the injuries, especially from Makayla and Devyn, that gave us a big hit.” Makayla Kauzlick made a grand debut as a freshman last year, but has been unable to compete this year due to injuries. Of course, that has meant other girls have had to step up.
“The positive here is that the girls that maybe wouldn’t have had the opportunity to compete are able to compete and we’re seeing some growth out of them, so that’s exciting as well,” said Ramey.
“At this point, it’s a matter of personal bests and being able to increase our team score on each event and get back up into at least a 90 by sectionals. And that’s still a decent season for us,” said Ramey.
Noblesville will compete in the Lafayette Jefferson sectional, which always has strong teams, with Harrison, Northwestern and McCutcheon having good seasons.
“Those probably will be your teams moving out, but maybe we can sneak in an individual somewhere in there,” said Ramey.
Team scores: Harrison 101.725, Noblesville 88.55, Lafayette Jefferson 76.20.
All-around scores: Olivia Mangin 30.725, Devyn Palmer 29.45.
Vault: Palmer 8.275, Kiley Reisner 8.25, Mangin 8.25, Kayleigh Sahr 8.10, Ella Deno 7.75, Racheal Glasener 7.25.
Cailey Hurst placed second in the junior varsity vault with a 7.60.
Uneven bars: Mangin 6.825, Sahr 6.00, Palmer 5.70, Glasener 5.45.
Balance beam: Mangin 7.95, Palmer 7.075, Reisner 6.825, Deno 6.525.
Floor exercise: 5. Palmer 8.40, Mangin 7.50, Hurst 7.30, Deno 7.10, Sahr 7.075, Reisner 6.65.
Noblesville seniors Devyn Palmer and Racheal Glasener were honored by the Millers gymnastics team prior to its meet Wednesday at Noblesville East Middle School. The Millers finished second in the meet with a season-high score of 88.55. (Kent Graham)
Noblesville junior Olivia Mangin scored an 8.25 on the vault. (Kent Graham)