The REPORTER
The Noblesville and Westfield gymnastics teams represented Hamilton County well at the IHSAA state meet, which took place Saturday, March 14 at Ball State University’s Worthen Arena.
The Millers competed as a team and finished ninth, scoring 103.325 team points. Junior Valorey Bittles led the way with an all-around score of 36.15. She also had the highest place and score on an individual event, tying for 20th on the vault.
Bittles was the very last gymnast on the vault, but it proved to be worth the wait. She completed a handspring double somersault and scored 9.275, easily the highest Noblesville score of the day.
The Shamrocks had three gymnasts compete as individuals. Sophomore Sonoma Fischer participated in the alla-around, where she scored 33.575 points.
Fischer’s best event was the floor exercise, where she posted a 9.025. She was joined by two of her Shamrocks teammates in that event: sophomore Kelsey Atkinson scored 8.825 and senior Madie Doran scored 8.60.
Doran is the only senior among the county gymnasts that participated in the state meet. As for Noblesville’s other competitors, Hailey Nobbe and Emmerson Leckrone are juniors and Vera Deichman is a freshman.
The Millers were making their first appearance at the state meet since 2008.
A complete list of county scores now follow.
All-around scores: Valorey Bittles (Noblesville) 36.15, Hailey Nobbe (N) 33.95, Sonoma Fischer (Westfield) 33.575, Vera Deichman (N) 33.45, Emmerson Leckrone (N) 31.90.
Vault: Bittles (N) 9.275, Fischer (W) 8.90, 45. Nobbe (N) 8.80, Deichman (N) 8.625, Leckrone (N) 8.225.
Uneven bars: Bittles (N) 8.70, Fischer (W) 8.425, Nobbe (N) 8.375, Leckrone (N) 7.775, Deichman (N) 7.675.
Balance beam: Bittles (N) 8.925, Kelsey Atkinson (W) 8.825, Deichman (N) 8.725, Madie Doran (W) 8.60, Leckrone (N) 8.20, Nobbe (N) 8.175, Fischer (W) 7.225.
Floor exercise: Fischer (W) 9.025, Bittles 8.90, Nobbe (N) 8.60, Deichman (N) 8.425, Leckrone (N) 7.70.