Once again the Girls Gymnastics season came to a victorious end. On Friday, April 30th, the Boys and Girls LHSAA State Championship was held at Baton Rouge High. In the girls division, competition was tough. There were 7 teams and 123 competitors!
In Division III, Level 3, Caddo Magnet took the lead with a score of 111.25, St. Joseph 2nd place (107.65), ED White 3rd place (110.35), Baton Rouge High 4th place (109.8), East Ascension 5th place (108.9), Catholic New Iberia 6th place (106.7), and St. Amant 7th place (91.35).
In Division II, Level 4, Caddo Magnet dropped to 5th place. St Joseph’s took the lead (75.3), ED White 2nd place (75.1), Catholic New Iberia 3rd place (74.05), East Ascension 4th place (72.9), Caddo Magnet 5th place (71.8), Baton Rouge 6th place (71.45), and St Amant 7th place 52.4). (Keep in mind most of the competitors in Division III and II are really upper level gymnasts in clubs that drop down in levels to win state titles. Our athletes are in a true high school PE class with little to no experience except for what we do at school).
In Division I, Level 8, Caddo Magnet’s one and only club gymnast, Cara Armstrong, had a long wait in the stands (about 8 hours) and a lot of pressure weighing on her shoulders. Coach Anderson looked at her and said, “Ok Cara, I only need a 36.95 (40 being a perfect score) for us to win.” She said, “Ok coach, I can do it, I can do this!” Drum roll please….In Division I, with levels 8s, 9s and 10s from just about every club in the state competed, Cara Armstrong scored a 37.10! She tied for 3rd in the All Around, 2nd on beam, and even beat higher level gymnasts. WOW!
Many will say this is an individual sport. The power of a team competing as one is far more rewarding! It truly took a strong team effort to win this year, and we did it. If you look at the results, it really was the difference of one fall (0.50 deduction).
Caddo Magnet (220.2), St Joseph (219.8), ED White (218.1), East Ascension (217.9), Catholic New Iberia (213.75), Baton Rouge (201.55) and St Amant (178.65).
Notable girls team results are as follows:
Division III, Level 3
Cassidy Cason – 5th place All Around (score of 37.0), 5th place floor
Kiley Simpson – 6th place All Around (score of 36.9), 2nd place floor
Erin Brown – 7th place All Around (36.5), 4th place vault, 5th place beam
Annie Thai – 5th place bars
Amelia St Germain – 6th place vault
Division II, Level 4
Megan Fry – 3rd place vault
Division I, Level 8
Cara Armstrong – 3T All Around (score of 37.15), 2nd place beam (9.35), 6th place vault (9.3 score)
2015 Caddo Magnet High School Girls State Champions are:
Natalie Wang (captain), Cara Armstrong (co-captain), Kiley Simpson (co-captain), Erin Brown, Cassidy Cason, Megan Fry, Brenee’ Hill, Brittney Hill, Cynamin Hooks, Kali Knighton, Tina Ly, Joi McCormick, KK Robinson, Kiley Simpson, Amelia St. Germain, Taylor Teach, Annie Thai, Hanna Walker, Natalie Wang and Rebecca Hutchinson (team manager).
One proud coach—Julie Anderson
