Three Saline Girls Win Titles at State Gymnastics Finals

Seven gymnasts from in Ann Arbor won individual state championships at the USAG State Gymnastics Championships earlier this month in Lansing. Among the champions were three girls from Saline: , and .

The event, which was held at the Summit in Lansing, attracted about 600 of the best gymnasts from throughout Michigan, competing for state titles in Levels 7-10.

Gym America's team competed in Levels 7, 8 and 9, and won individual state championships at each level. The Ann Arbor gym also did very well in the team competition. In Level 7, Gym America placed third out of 35 teams from across the state. The Level 8 team finished in sixth place, while the Level 9 team took eighth place.

In Level 9, Emma Kerber of Ann Arbor won two state championships for Gym America, winning the balance beam and floor exercise in her age group. She scored a 9.375 in both events to take the titles. Kerber also placed second in the all-around.

Gym America's other Level 9 gymnasts also fared well at the meet, all of them qualifying for regionals with their scores. Leah Clapper took fourth on floor and sixth on beam; Taylor Helber placed third on beam; Morgan Bradford took fourth on beam; and Darby Slater placed sixth on beam.

In Level 8, Gym America had two state champions - Katie Black of Pinckney on the uneven bars (9.450) and Erika Myers of Saline on balance beam (9.350). Black was also second in the all-around.

All of Gym America's Level 8 gymnasts also qualified for regionals. Myel Ristenblatt was second on vault and third on bars; McKenna Linnen was second on beam; Bianca Allen placed third on bars; Camille Burt took sixth on beam; Amelia Hill placed ninth on vault; Mara Santiz was 10th on beam; Lilli Paquin placed 10th on vault; Cali Harden took 10th on bars; and Addison Neff was 12th on beam.

In Level 7, Gym America had four state champions. Hannah Lewis of Saline was a state champ in two events, winning the vault (9.725) and uneven bars (9.375). Amelia Moorehouse of Gregory was also a state champion in two events, taking first in the balance beam (9.450) and floor exercise (9.50). Riley Meeks of Ann Arbor won the state title in the floor exercise (9.475), while Alex Wagner of Saline captured the vault title (9.575).

Also placing for Gym America at Level 7 were Laurel Dudek, second place on vault; Samantha Fontana, third on vault; Angelia Daman, third on vault; Naya Haynes, third on vault; Ling Peng, fourth on bars; Nicole Bow, fourth on vault; Jenna Gileczek, fourth on vault; Seanna Mueller-King, fourth on floor; and Megan Black, 12th on vault.