Whitmer’s Harder wins floor exercise title at state gymnastics championships

3/3/2018
BY JARROD ULREY
SPECIAL TO THE BLADE
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    Whitmer senior Victoria Harder during the vault at the Ohio High School State Individual Championships at Hilliard Bradley High School on Saturday, March 3, 2018.

    SPECIAL TO THE BLADE/JOE MAIORANA
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  • HILLIARD — After completing her final prep gymnastics meet, Whitmer senior Victoria Harder said one of the next things on her personal agenda is to give track and field a try this spring.

    She’s got reason to believe she can take on just about any challenge considering what occurred at the state individual meet Saturday at Hilliard Bradley.

    Whitmer’s Victoria Harder was the state runner-up on the vault at the individual gymnastics championship.
    Whitmer’s Victoria Harder was the state runner-up on the vault at the individual gymnastics championship.

    For just the second time in program history, a gymnast from Whitmer landed on top of the podium after she captured the championship in the floor exercise with a 9.525.

    Harder’s all-around score of 36.875 was fourth overall, and she also was runner-up on vault (9.525).

    “I just really had fun and enjoyed myself on the mat because it’s my last event on my last meet in my senior year,” Harder said. 

    “I just wanted to do the best I could, and what happens, happens. It was just perfecting little things. It’s been really fun. My teammates have been awesome and it’s really fun cheering everyone on.”

    Also competing all-around were Maumee’s Alyssa Delffs (tied for 27th, 34.625), Notre Dame’s Maddie Humbles (tied for 27th, 34.625), Perrysburg’s Caitlin Madigan (30th, 34.55), Perrysburg’s Bailey Lewicz (33rd, 33.85), and Whitmer’s Rachel Krotzer (35th, 33.575).

    Delffs missed six weeks with a back injury, but bounced back well enough to record a 9.025 on vault among her scores at state.

    “Making it to states means that my hard work has paid off,” Delffs said. “I expected to have a good season and have fun while competing. When I came back [from injury] I really had to work hard to get my skills back.”

    Maumee junior Alyssa Delffs on the bars at the Ohio High School State Individual Championships at Hilliard Bradley High School on Saturday, March 3, 2018.
    Maumee junior Alyssa Delffs on the bars at the Ohio High School State Individual Championships at Hilliard Bradley High School on Saturday, March 3, 2018.

    Humbles had an 8.975 on vault and an 8.725 on beam.

    “I’m very honored to make it to states as my last time competing in the sport of gymnastics,” Humbles said. “I have a lot of support from my teammates and coaches.”

    Lewicz was an alternate at state last season before joining Madigan and Emily Mitchell as key contributors for Perrysburg’s squad which placed eighth in the team competition Friday.

    Madigan’s best scores were a 9.075 on vault and 9.025 on beam and Lewicz’ best was a 9.00 on vault. Mitchell scored 9.1 on vault.

    “After being down there last year, it’s a very cool atmosphere, so it’s really motivating,” Lewicz said. 

    “We have a lot of high-level gymnasts on our team, so that helps.”

    Krotzer scored a 9.125 on vault among her all-around performance.

    McComb’s Shelby Steinbrook scored 8.75 on floor and 7.85 on beam.