CLAYTON – The Darke and Shelby county high school gymnasts competed at their first meet of the season on Jan. 16 at the Northmont Invitational.
Local gymnasts included Ansonia junior Amber Aultman, Arcanum junior Madison Goubeaux, Arcanum senior Emma Smith, Arcanum junior Cheyenne White, Franklin Monroe sophomore Leighana Rautsaw, Greenville senior Sydney Oda, Versailles freshman Ellie Barga, Versailles sophomore Jadyn Barga, Versailles freshman Jada Barlage, Versailles sophomore Madison Ahrens, Versailles junior Jorja Pothast, Versailles senior Katelyn Kingrey and Anna junior Kara Steinke.
Ansonia’s Amber Aultman didn’t compete at Northmont because of an injury.
Arcanum’s Emma Smith and Greenville’s Sydney Oda both competed on vault, bars and beam. Arcanum’s Cheyenne White competed all-around, ranking 25th, and Franklin Monroe’s Leighana Rautsaw also competed in all-around, ranking 27th out of the 66 gymnasts.
This is the very first time in history that a Darke County school has had a team compete – Versailles – and the Tigers took home first place with a score of 137.4. This beat out state qualifying team last year Troy, whose score was 135.05 and Lakota East at 132.5.
Scoring for Versailles senior Katelyn Kingrey got fourth on vault, eighth on bars, 10th on floor and seventh all-around. Junior Jorja Pothast had 11th place on beam, which went to the team score, and tied for 13th place all-around. Sophomore Jadyn Barga won vault with a 9.35 and was third on bars, 10th on beam and second all-around. Sophomore Madison Ahrens finished eighth on vault, sixth on bars, first on beam with 9.2, second on floor and fourth all-around. This was freshman Jada Barlage’s very first meet and her second year as a gymnast. She participated on floor and vault. Also as a freshman Ellie Barga did well, placing eighth on beam and 10th all-around.
