Berlin’s Swain leads area contingent at state gymnastics meet
Sunday, March 3, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
julrey@cbussports.com
Olentangy Berlin’s Tiana Estrada does her floor routine during the 52nd Annual OHSAA state gymnastics tournament Mar. 3 at Hilliard Bradley. Photo: Lorrie Gardner
Not getting hung up on scores and placements is all part of the process of being successful for Olentangy Berlin sophomore gymnast Tayten Swain.
During her inaugural prep season last winter, Swain showed immediately that she was one of the state’s best by winning the all-around championship at the district meet and then earning a state runner-up finish all-around.
This winter, she was even better.
After defending her district all-around title with a score that was 0.3 better than last season, she left the state individual meet Sunday at Hilliard Bradley with another runner-up finish.
Swain scored 38.275 at last year’s state meet and 38.35 at the event this season all-around to finish just behind Parma Padua Franciscan’s Tessa Brousek (38.45).
She also was first on floor exercise (9.55), second on vault (9.775) and fourth on bars (9.35).
“My main goal is just to have fun,” Swain said. “(The state team meet Friday) wasn’t my strongest day, so I’m happy because this was much better than yesterday’s performance. I just came in knowing I needed to get my routines done. I started with a new head space and did what I could do. I feel like my routines went really well.
Olentangy Berlin’s Tayten Swain competes on the beam during the state gymnastics championship Mar. 3 at Hilliard Bradley. Photo: Lorrie Gardner
“I don’t know if I was necessarily trying to top (last season), but I just wanted to come back in and have another successful year. It’s so exciting. Everything you’ve ever worked for your whole like, you work for for this moment and you finally get there, and when it goes your way, it’s everything you hoped for.”
Also finishing in the top 10 all-around from the area were Olentangy Orange senior Jade Gerhard (eighth, 37.4) and Hilliard Bradley senior Lilly Gibbs (ninth, 36.85).
Gerhard turned in a third-place finish on bars (9.425) as the top six reached the podium, and tied for eighth on vault (9.45).
Gerhard was making her third consecutive appearance at state after not competing at the prep level as a freshman.
“My goal was to place top five in anything, and I was happy when I found out (I finished third on bars),” Gerhard said. “I added another skill to up my start value.”
DeSales senior Alexandra Fickell finished runner-up on bars (9.55) and was 14th (36.175) all-around in her only state appearance.
She did not compete in prep gymnastics in any of her previous seasons because DeSales didn’t have a team until this winter.
DeSales’ Alexandra Fickell does her floor routine during the OHSAA gymnastics tournament Mar. 3 at Hilliard Bradley. Photo: Lorrie Gardner
“I would have liked to have done better, but I’m definitely glad I was able to compete this season,” Fickell said. “DeSales didn’t have a team until this year. I’d already quit club gymnastics two years ago and was never planning to come back, but the underclassmen really pushed for a team this year and it gave me an opportunity to do it again. I had a great time. It was fun, and a great way to end my gymnastics (career).”
Also reaching the podium from the area was Berlin senior Alexandra Downing, who was runner-up on floor exercise (9.525), and Olentangy freshman Audrey Sprouse, who was sixth on beam (9.45).
Downing has committed to doing cheerleading in college at Rutgers.
“It’s just a really great way to end my gymnastics career,” Downing said. “I’ve put so much work into this, 10 years, and I’m glad about how it ended.
“I was feeling good (on floor). I’ve been dealing with a little bit of an ankle issue from (the state team competition), so I was just glad to perform. I just love performing on floor and getting to smile and dance. I had a great time out there and wasn’t even worrying about how the tumbling and jumps went.”
Also competing all-around were Berlin junior Tiana Estrada (12th, 36.375), Dublin Jerome junior Konyinsola Sofowora (15th, 36.15), Hilliard Darby senior Abby Killilea (tied for 19th, 35.825), and Marion Harding senior Autumn Fitzgerald (tied for 24th, 35.675).
Dublin Jerome’s Konyinsola Sofowora competes on the beam at the OHSAA state gymnastics meet Mar. 3 at Hilliard Bradley. Photo: Lorrie Gardner