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A Banner Day for Elly Kiran, Crown Point
MUNCIE - For only the third time in IHSAA history, Crown Point pulled off the “triple crown” of gymnastics.
Coach Ami Pysh’s squad claimed the state championship with a 112.325 score in the meet held at Ball State University’s Worthen Arena.
Defending champion and Duneland Conference-rival Valparaiso placed second with 109.250.
The title is the second in three seasons for the Crown Point program.
In addition to the team title, Crown Point senior Elly Kiran took home the All-Around individual title with a 38.425 score. Kiran completed CP’s banner day by being named the Mildred M. Ball Mental Attitude Award recipient.
Her qll-qround score included a meet-best in the vault (9.725) and floor exercise (9.55), as well as a 9.60 on the uneven bars and 9.55 on the balance beam – as both those scores placed her second in those events.
“I had no expectations coming in today,” of her haul of medals. “This was my last meet and I have worked so hard this year. I just wanted to come in with confidence and whatever happened, happened.”
Kiran became only the second in state history to compete as part of the state championship team, win the All-Around and be named the Mental Attitude Award winner. Columbus North’s Pam Robillard is the only other gymnast to accomplish that feat, coming back in 1974.
Only one other school has completed the “triple crown,” that being Columbus North in 2016. However, two different gymnasts won the All-Around and the Ball award.
Kiran led a senior class for Pysh’s squad that the long-time head coach credited with the program’s recent success.
“Our hashtag has been to go out as champions and we did,” Pysh said. “Once (Bridget) Donovan gave up ‘club’ and decided to join us, that propelled us to an unbeaten season. We finished third last year, so this is a ‘three-peat’ of state medals.
“It’s been a magical year and it will be hard to let these seniors go.”
Also, on a light-hearted note, Pysh’s footwear might deserve some credit.
“My husband and I went to Nashville several year ago and I saw these red and white boots that were sparkling,” Pysh said of her footwear. “I started wearing them every year we came to state. When we won (in 2022), they told me I have to keep wearing them.”
Franklin Central’s Austyn Dykes finished second in the all-around with a 38.20 score winning the bars (9.625) and beam (9.575). Dykes won the all-around as a freshman in 2021. Columbus North’s Reese Euler finished third (38.10).
Rounding out the top five teams were Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, which took third (108.85), Columbus North placing fourth (107.825) and Bloomington North fifth (107.60).
52nd Annual IHSAA Gymnastics State Finals
Worthen Arena, Ball State University, Muncie
March 9, 2024
Final Team Standings
1. Crown Point 113.150
2. Valparaiso 109.250
3. Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger 108.850
4. Columbus North 107.825
5. Bloomington North 107.600
6. Carroll (Fort Wayne) 107.100
7. Angola 105.400
8. Lake Central 104.650
9. Bloomington South 101.025
Individual State Champions
Vault: Elly Kiran (12) Crown Point 9.725
Bars: Austyn Dykes (12) Franklin Central 9.625
Beam: Austyn Dykes (12) Franklin Central 9.575
Floor Exercise: Elly Kiran (12) Crown Point 9.550
All-Around: Elly Kiran (12) Crown Point 38.425
Crown Point's Elsie Kiran named Mildred Ball Mental Attitude Award Winner
Following the event, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Elsie (Elly) Kiran of Crown Point High School as the recipient of the Mildred M. Ball Mental Attitude Award.
Kiran was a participant in the All-Around competition helping the Bulldogs to their third consecutive appearance at the State Finals. She was also a member of Crown Point’s 2022 state championship team.
Elsie has earned a 4.00 weighted GPA thus far and is active in the National Honors Society, Riley's Dance Marathon, and Bulldog Mentor program. In addition, she and her family were the creators of the I Will Foundation in honor of her cousin who was battling cancer while serving in the United States Marine Corp. The foundation aims to help raise awareness to melanoma and and further help those who've battled cancer.
She is the daughter of Scott and Cathy Kiran of Crown Point, Indiana. She will continue her education at Purdue University Northwest where she’ll study Education with a concentration in English.
The IHSAA Executive Committee, on behalf of Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, presented $1,000 to Crown Point High School's general scholarship fund in the name of Elsie Kiran.
The mental attitude award is named in honor of the former IHSAA assistant commissioner who served the Association from 1977 to 1997. During her career, Mildred Ball administered the state gymnastics tournament among other sports and oversaw the licensing and training of all contest officials in the state of Indiana.
