Sidelines: Dixon, Williams have state gymnastics success

Perrysburg coach Michelle Nordhaus congratulates Chelsea Williams after her vault at the state meet.

Area gymnasts put together a strong showing at the state tournament at Hilliard Bradley High School.

Two gymnasts — Karla Dixon of Ottawa Hills and Perrysburg's Chelsea Williams — earned spots on the podium for their efforts in vaulting. Dixon placed second with a score of 9.450, while Williams tied for third at 9.40.

Williams also was this area's top performer on uneven parallel bars (tied for ninth, 9.025) and floor exercise (tied for eighth, 9.225), as well as the all-around competition (10th, 36.10).

Archbold's Kinsey Smith finished among the top 10 gymnasts in three different events, taking eighth in the vault (9.250) while tying for ninth on bars (9.025) and tying for 10th on floor exercise (9.200).

Riley Dunbar of Napoleon placed 12th with a 8.875 score on the balance beam.

Dunbar and her Napoleon teammates — Kendall Homan, Taylor Dunbar, Kendall Anderson, and Bethany Wolf — placed sixth in the team competition. That was the best team finish in school history and the best for an area team since Findlay took fourth in 2005.

Perrysburg also earned a berth in the team competition after failing to qualify in 2009, a setback that snapped a string of five straight state appearances. The Yellow Jackets placed 12th this year.