The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
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Pair of gymnasts on way to state
Hornets finish sixth at regional meet, but Cederna, Pleger qualify
By Jerry Hinnen, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 8, 2007
Heading into last Saturday's regional competition at Plymouth-Canton, Saline gymnastics coach Paul Van Slambrouck said his team would need an amazing performance to finish in the top three and advance to the state meet.
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Saline's score of 132.15, good for sixth place, wasn't quite amazing enough to get the Hornets to state. But between two Saline gymnasts qualifying for the state meet individually, the overall team performance, and valuable regional experience for the young Hornet team –– only two of Saline's eight regional qualifiers are seniors –– Van Slambrouck was more than satisfied with how things went in Plymouth. .
"I was very happy with our results," he said. "The girls stayed disciplined and did their gymnastics. They really showed up when it counted."
The qualifiers are junior Paige Cederna, who will compete on the balance beam and in the floor exercise, and freshman Brooke Pleger, who also qualified on the beam.
Although the team regional competition is single-division only, individual competition is divided into two divisions, with each gymnast assigned a division based on club performance. rather than on school size. To qualify for state, gymnasts had to finish in the top eight or in a tie for eighth in their division (in the case of all eight Saline gymnasts, Division 2).
Cederna accomplished that with an 8.8 in the floor exercise, which was good for fifth place in that event. Pleger then posted her own 8.8 on the beam, which Cederna matched with another 8.8. Those scores tied for eighth on the beam, qualifying both for state in the event.
"Brooke was really able to show how mature she's become and how much her gymnastics have improved," Van Slambrouck said. "Paige went last year and it was no surprise to see her qualify again. It's going to be exciting to have both of them coming back next season, and all our freshmen in the years to come."
Saline had a number of other strong performances. On the uneven bars, four Hornets broke the 8.0 mark: Cederna with an 8.35, Karen Thompson at 8.25, Kristy Richart at 8.2 and Pleger at 8.15. Brittany Holloway scored a 7.8 in the event and Kara Williams a 7.85.
Richart, a freshman, led the way for Saline on vault with an 8.3. She was followed by Rachel Cole (8.05), Pleger (8.05), Holloway (8.05), Williams (7.85), Cederna (7.75), Thompson (7.75) and Moriah Grooms (7.4).
On the floor, Cederna was nearly joined at state by Pleger, who scored an 8.475. Williams (7.925), Cole (7.8), Thompson (7.6) and Holloway (7.225) also competed in the event.
Three other Hornets besides the state qualifiers competed on the beam. Holloway posted a solid 8.3 while Williams had a personal-best 7.85 and Thompson added a 7.75.
Five Hornets competed in the all-around competition, with Cederna and Pleger coming within shouting distance of a state berth with scores of 33.7 and 33.475, respectively. (The top six scores advance, with the sixth-place qualifier scoring a 34.5.) They were followed by Holloway (31.375), Thompson (31.3) and Williams (31.125).
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