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Chesterton repeated as state champions thanks to four individual champions and Carroll's Ashelynn Steinke claimed all-around honors during the 47th Annual IHSAA Gymnastics State Finals at Noblesville High School.

The top-ranked Trojans of coach Dawn Matthys scored 113.875 points easily besting the field for the second straight year and its fifth state championship overall in the sport. It was also the second state title of the school year for the Porter County school which also claimed the 3A boys soccer crown on Oct. 27.

Junior Sophia Hunzelman and sophomore teammate Mia Pak shared the uneven bars title with McCutcheon senior Crysta Dilley. The trio each scored a 9.60 resulting in the first three-way tie for a title in tournament history. Dilley became the first state champion gymnast in her school's history.

It was the second bars title in three years for Hunzelman who also repeated as the winner in the balance beam with a 9.725. Pak topped the field in the vault with a 9.7 score and Trojan senior Jordan Bush claimed her second straight crown in the floor exercise with a 9.725.

Steinke became Carroll's first all-around winner (38.125) taking second in beam (9.575), third in the floor (9.575), fifth in the bars (9.475) and tied for 10th in the vault (9.50). The senior led the way in helping Carroll to the runner-up spot in the team competition with 110.975, the school's highest finish ever.

Lake Central, making its first team appearance in the state finals, placed third with 110.175.

Valparaiso senior Whitney McKeon, the defending champion in the beam, settled for third this year with a 9.525.

47th Annual IHSAA Gymnastics State Finals 
March 9, 2019
Worthen Arena, Ball State University, Muncie, IN

Final Team Scores

1. Chesterton: 113.875

2. Carroll (Fort Wayne): 110.975

3. Lake Central: 110.175

4. Portage: 109.025

5. Columbus North: 108.575

6. Homestead: 107.500

7. Angola: 106.100

8. Columbus East: 103.600

9. Richmond: 102.375

State Champions 
All-Around: Ashelynn Steinke (12) Carroll (Fort Wayne), 38.125
Vault: Mia Pak (10) Chesterton 9.700
Uneven Bars: (3-Way Tie) Crysta Dilley (12) McCutcheon; Sophia Hunzelman (11) Chesterton; Mia Pak (10) Chesterton; 9.600.
Balance Beam: Sophia Hunzelman (11) Chesterton 9.725
Floor Exercise: Jordan Bush (12) Chesterton 9.725

Jordan Bush of Chesterton named Mildred Ball Mental Attitude Award Winner
Following the event, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Chesterton High School’s Jordan Bush as the recipient of the Mildred M. Ball Mental Attitude Award.

The award is presented annually to a senior participant in the state finals who is deemed to have best demonstrated mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in gymnastics.

Jordan has competed at the State Finals in each of her four years including last year’s state title. Last year she finished as the state champion in the floor exercise. Bush has been awarded MVP of the Chesterton High School Gymnastics Team every year during her time as a Lady Trojan, as well as receiving 1st Team All-State and All-Conference honors each year. In addition to gymnastics, Bush plans to compete on Chesterton High School’s inaugural Unified Track and Field Team this spring.

In addition to her achievements in the gymnasium, Jordan volunteers her time with St. Patrick’s Church where she helped raise money for a young girl suffering from cancer. She has also helped with Dinner for Hope, USA Flags for 9-11, Boys and Girls Club, numerous community gymnastic camps, and College and Career Night at CHS. At her school, Jordan has held positions and participated in the Student Athletic Council, National Honors Society, International Baccalaureate Program, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the German Club.

Academically, Jordan ranks 26th in her class of 462 students, receiving a Chesterton High School Scholar Athlete Award every semester during her career. She was also a member of the Academic All-State Team.

The daughter of Nathan and Tanya Bush of Chesterton, Indiana, Jordan will attend Valparaiso University next year to study Nursing.
The IHSAA Executive Committee, on behalf of Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, presented $1,000 to Chesterton High School's general scholarship fund in the name of Jordan Bush.

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 also oversaw the licensing and training of all contest officials in the state of Indiana.