Dublin Jerome gymnastics team on track for another strong postseason
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
julrey@cbussports.com
Dublin Jerome’s Konyinsola Sofowora acknowledges the awards table before her routine on beam Jan. 9 at Dublin Coffman. Photo: John Hulkenberg
For nearly a decade, the Dublin school district has pumped out state-caliber prep gymnasts almost like clockwork.
Even in seasons like last winter when Jerome was forced to reload after losing one of the greatest competitors in central Ohio history to graduation, it went on to make its sixth appearance at the state team meet in eight seasons.
Now at full strength for the first time all season, the Celtics look more than ready to continue their recent run of success when the league and postseason meets are held next month.
“As the season keeps going, we’re going to get better and better and keep building on our previous meets,” junior Molly Hayes said. “Consistency is really important. It’s kind of what you do in practice that shows through.”
Kristen Willms has been Jerome’s coach since 2010 and also took over as the coach at both Dublin Coffman and Dublin Scioto in 2010.
The three programs practice together, and each have had periods of success under Willms.
In 2016, Coffman won the district championship and Jerome finished third at district, with the Celtics qualifying for state for the first time. Bethany Hurt, a senior that season for the Shamrocks, won the district all-around championship.
Olivia Adams of Dublin Jerome competes on the balance beam Jan. 9, at Dublin Coffman. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Jerome made additional state-meet appearances each of the past five seasons, including when it finished 10th in 2022 as Raegan Ernst became just the fourth Central District competitor to capture the all-around state championship. Ernst now competes in women’s track and field for Dayton.
Despite six of its seven competitors being underclassmen a year ago, the Celtics improved to a ninth-place finish at state.
“We still have upgrades to put in and we definitely (want) more consistency, but it’s been encouraging,” said Alicia McQuade, who is in her 14th season serving as an assistant under Willms.
On Jan. 13 in the Worthington Kilbourne Invitational, Jerome scored 139.7 to finish runner-up behind Hudson (139.85) while Coffman was third (136.975).
In addition to coaching the Dublin programs, Willms also coaches at the club level.
The Kilbourne Invitational marked the return to full competition for the Celtics’ only senior, Ella Cooper, who had been battling an injury since late November.
Cooper turned in a 10th-place finish all-around at Kilbourne.
“They did awesome (at Kilbourne),” McQuade said. “All of them have things they’ve been doing really, really well, and we still have areas to improve. Jerome had Ella back on all four events, so that was nice. This is the first time where Jerome had everyone competing, so it was our season high. It’s a good confidence-booster for them.”
Abigail Coffey of Dublin Jerome competes on the uneven bars Jan. 9 at Dublin Coffman. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Also at the Kilbourne Invitational in the all-around competition, Scioto sophomore Carly McKenzie was runner-up, Jerome junior Konyinsola Sofowora was fourth, Coffman senior Avery Ragland was sixth, Hayes finished eighth and Coffman senior Quinn Hammond was ninth.
Sofowara was the only Dublin gymnast to qualify for last year’s state individual meet all-around after placing eighth at district.
“My season so far has been a little rough, so it was really nice to have a good meet (at Kilbourne),” Sofowara said. “My floor for sure was a lot better than I thought it was going to be, along with my beam.”
Another top competitor for Jerome has been junior Olivia Adams, who won the balance beam at the Kilbourne Invitational, while junior Katelynn Kratky and freshman Erica Lee have been other key contributors.
“It was a little hard before break, but we worked really hard over break, and it’s paying off,” Adams said.
The Celtics will return to Kilbourne on Feb. 24 for the district meet, where the top two teams advance to the state team meet March 2 at Hilliard Bradley and the top eight in each individual event and the all-around advance to the state individual meet March 3 at Bradley.
Olentangy Berlin, which was the district champion and a state runner-up a year ago, figures to again be the Celtics’ biggest postseason obstacle.
“We had a lot of fun, and our energy was pretty good (at the Kilbourne Invitational),” Hayes said. “As we get older, we have more experience that we’re lucky enough to hand down to the younger girls. Putting things together in practice, working on the little things, will all pay off.”
Navya Garg of Dublin Jerome competes on balance beam Jan. 9 at Dublin Coffman. Photo: John Hulkenberg