Jackson Area Gymnastics makes history with first state title
JACKSON, Mich. (BVM) — Prior to this season, Jackson Area Gymnastics had never finished in the top-10 at a state meet. In fact, its best-ever finish was 12th, leaving the team to come into the meet free and loose with few expectations.
But last month, the team rewrote the record books and won the program’s first-ever state title.
It wouldn’t come easy, nor would it come by a big margin, as Jackson narrowly snuck past Rockford’s total score of 144.50 with a team score of 144.775.
Specific totals saw Jackson finish with 37.725 on the floor exercise, and earn a first-place finish on the beam with 36.825. The team didn’t do quite as well on the uneven bars with a score of 33.975, but rebounded with a second-place finish and score of 36.25 on the vault.
The team is made up of many standout gymnasts from the Jackson, Mich. area, but two who stood out at state were Grass Lake’s Abi Grimm — who earned three state medals — and Napoleon’s Alyssa Budd — who also earned two.
Along with Grimm, Cara Fries, Kaelin Schiffer and Amelia Hamlin made up a special senior class on the team that will certainly go down in the history books.
Any state title is sweet, but getting that first one is always special. Jackson Area Gymnastics can now and forever say they were state champions.
