Joining the high school gymnastics team wasn’t the only option for Chesterton freshman Sophie Hunzelman.
As an accomplished USA Gymnastics Level 9 gymnast, she could have continued competing in club.
But Hunzelman opted for the high school route.
“I just wanted the experience,” she said. “Everyone told me it was fun and Chesterton has a really good team here.”
Just one month into her Trojans career, Hunzelman has added to a young core of gymnasts who are scoring with the best programs in the state.
A few weeks before the season, Hunzelman’s parents met with second-year Chesterton coach Dawn Matthys. Matthys spent the prior 18 years as a club coach.
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“They wanted me to give them the differences between USAG and high school,” Matthys said. “And if she’d be a good fit.”
Hunzelman’s gymnastics talent wasn’t in doubt, but high school and club gymnastics can seem like two different sports to those unfamiliar.
“Not just for the gymnasts, but also for the families of the gymnasts,” Matthys said. “They’ll go to a (USAG) meet and just watch their kid. But it’s completely different in high school because the parents get to know the team and they cheer for every girl, not just their own daughter.”
USAG gymnasts have about one meet each month. The high school gymnastics schedule often has multiple meets per week.
“And the away meets get done a lot later,” Hunzelman said.
But those late nights haven’t affected Hunzelman’s scores. She marked a 37.875 in the all-around at a Jan. 17 dual meet with Crown Point, the second highest score in the state this season.
Adding her scores to a team that already boasted plenty of young talent — such as sophomores Jordan Bush and Lexi Avey and junior Madeline Juestel — has moved Chesterton into the state’s elite.
The Trojans sit atop the most recent coaches poll, while their team scores have hovered around 110.
Last season, Chesterton scored 110.475 at the state meet to finish fifth. The top four teams are awarded medals, and Matthys was hopeful that the addition of Hunzelman, combined with the veteran gymnasts, puts Chesterton over the top.
“We’re not just going down there to get the experience,” Matthys said, “but to come back with a little hardware.”
Busy stretch: Portage just completed a grueling stretch of three dual meets in five days. The Indians defeated LaPorte 104.75-93.675 last Thursday, they beat Michigan City 106.375-101.375 on Saturday and they lost to Crown Point 108.425-107.3 on Monday.
First-year coach Lisa Whipps noted the steady improvement of her team’s scores.
“We went from a 104 to a 106 to 107,” she said. “And our team is going to continue to improve. We’re not done.”
On the rise: Valparaiso won Saturday’s 12-team Fort Wayne Concordia Classic Invitational with a team score of 111.125.
Some familiar names helped the Vikings finish first, with junior Rachel Moneta winning floor (9.575) and sophomore Whitney McKeon winning beam (9.35) and all-around (37.125).
Valparaiso oach Lorie Cook called it an “awesome performance,” saying the Vikings did not count any falls. She also praised the effort of freshman Megan Wagenblast, who was the first performer on beam, the team’s opening event.
“That was a huge test for her, and she passed it with flying colors,” Cook said.
Dave Melton is a freelance writer for the Post-Tribune.
TOP 3
With last week’s rankings in parentheses.
1. Valparaiso (1)
2. Chesterton (2)
3. Merrillville (3)
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Gymnast of the Week: Sophomore Gabrielle DeVries led Lake Central to a dual-meet victory over Lowell on Jan. 17 by winning vault (9.3), bars (8.65) and all-around (34.7).