The Kentlake High gymnastics team is finally getting healthy.
And last week at the All-City meet, that good health showed for the Falcons.
Behind the usual standout performances by Katie Steckler and Lynnsey Thielman along with the emergence of sophomore Melissa Alberts, the Falcons cruised to a season-high 164.25 points en route to putting away Kentridge, Kentwood and Kent-Meridian in a four-team meet at Kentwood High Wednesday, Jan. 26.
Due to various nagging injuries, the Falcons have been unable to deliver a top-notch performance this season.
That changed against their local rivals.
“We have been struggling this year to have everything come together at the same time,” said coach Marla Boyd, who noted that she will be stepping down at the end of the season. “Once we finally had almost everyone healthy and a full lineup — and girls hitting routines for the most part — it finally came together.”
Indeed. And it could not have come at a better time as the good health helped the Falcons win their fifth consecutive All-City meet.
Thielman, who has been rock solid all season for Kentlake, secured a first-place finish on the floor with a score of 9.6 and tied Kent-Meridian’s Juliana Adams on the beam with a 9.5. Steckler added four second-place finishes, grabbing silver in the all around (34.95), bars (7.5), floor (9.4) and vault (8.6).
Meanwhile, Alberts, a sophomore, added a third-place finish on the floor, with a strong 9.3 performance.
“In this meet, Melissa really stood out,” Boyd said. “She hit 4 of 4 events and has been working really hard at increasing her level of difficulty.”
As good as Kentlake was as a team, Kentwood’s Jordan Johnson was just as good individually, capturing the all-around crown with a score of 35.8 and adding a first-place finish on the vault (9.20). Kentridge’s Amy Hirake also delivered a strong showing, grabbing third place on the bars with a score of 7.40.
Kentridge took second with a 158.05 followed closely by Kentwood (156.8) and Kent-Meridian (148.75).
The All-City meet was the final regular-season competition for the local gymnastics teams, which will move on to the sub-district meet on Saturday, Feb. 5.
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