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Chesterton scored 114.40 points behind strong performances from Sophia Hunzelman and Jordan Bush to unseat defending state champion Valparaiso at the 46th Annual IHSAA Gymnastics State Finals at Worthen Arena in Muncie.

The top-ranked Trojans total was the second-most ever scored at the state finals behind only Columbus North's 114.850 from two years ago.

It was the fourth state championship for Chesterton and its first since 2002. The Trojans were coached by Dawn Matthys.

Second-ranked Valparaiso took runner-up honors with 113.950 points, the fourth-most ever scored and fifth-ranked Columbus North took third place with 110.40.

Hunzelman tied for the balance beam crown with Valpo's Whitney McKeon with a 9.70 and went on to win the all-around title for the second straight year. The sophomore Hunzelman became just the second gymnast to capture the all-around competition in both of her first two years joining Valpo's Angie Cook in 1993 and 1994. Hunzelman also tied for second in the bars (9.625) after winning last year, and took sixth place in the vault (9.50) and the floor exercise (9.60).

Bush, a Chesterton junior, led all competitors in the floor exercise with her 9.825 and finished fourth in the all-around with 38.050. She placed second in the vault (9.70) and fourth in the bars (9.575). Freshman teamate Mia Pak tied Hunzelman for second in the bars and took third in the vault (9.625) to spur the Trojans' effort.

Columbus East's Adison Minor, the only participant entering the day to have won the all-around at both the sectional and regional, tied for second overall with 38.150 points. She finished the day a double state champion winning the vault with a 9.725 effort and repeated as the bars state champ with a 9.675.

46th Annual IHSAA Gymnastics State Finals 
March 10, 2018
Worthen Arena, Ball State University, Muncie, IN

Final Team Scores
1.    Chesterton: 114.400
2.    Valparaiso: 113.950
3.    Columbus North: 110.400
4.    Columbus East: 109.700
5.    Homestead: 109.200
6.    Portage: 108.425
7.    Carroll (Fort Wayne): 108.375
8.    Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger: 107.500
9.    Seymour: 102.625

State Champions 
All-Around: Sophia Hunzelman (10) Chesterton 38.425.
Vault: Adison Minor (12) Columbus East 9.725.
Uneven Bars: Adison Minor (12) Columbus East 9.675.
Balance Beam: (Tie) Sophia Hunzelman (10) Chesterton; Whitney McKeon (11) Valparaiso 9.70.
Floor Exercise: Jordan Bush (11) Chesterton 9.825.

Claire Thompson of Columbus North named Mildred Ball Mental Attitude Award Winner
Following the event, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Columbus North High School’s Claire Thompson 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.

Claire has competed at the State Finals in each of her four years, helping lead Columbus North to four consecutive team regional championships and a state title in 2016. That same year, she finished as the state champion in the beam, uneven bars, and all-around competition as well. Her junior season, she earned her second consecutive state champion title on the beam. A varsity cheerleader during the past three years, Claire also earned the Indy Star Sports Award Indiana Gymnast of the Year honor in both 2016 and 2017, as well as the 2018 Wendy’s High School Heisman School Award. In addition to her achievements in the gymnasium, Claire volunteers much of her time with St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Feed My Starving Children, Advocates for Children, and many other organizations.

The daughter of Rusty and Jana Thompson of Columbus, Claire will attend Indiana University in Bloomington next year to study Occupational Therapy.
The IHSAA Executive Committee, on behalf of Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, presented $1,000 to Columbus North High School's general scholarship fund in the name of Claire Thompson.

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.