By: Kristy Booher Angelo, Associate Athletic Director
For More Info: booherk@gilmour.org
Lancer gymnast Sophia Giancola '20 is headed to the OHSAA Gymnastics State Championship in Columbus, Ohio, February 28-29. She is the lone qualifier from Gilmour and will be competing in vault, beam, floor and all-around.
The top 17 individuals in each event and in the all-around at the district level earn a bid to the state meet. Giancola finished third with a score of 9.4 on her floor routine, 12th in beam with a score of 8.95 and 15th in vault with a score of 9.25. She did not place in the bars, but her score of 8.15 in the event helped her to earn a 12th place finish in the all-around with a score of 35.7. She was also named to the All-District Team for placing in the top 10 in an event.
"I had a very consistent performance at Districts," said Giancola. "I went into the meet very confident and I feel as though it showed. My floor routine was the best routine I have done all year, with the highest score I have received all year. It felt amazing to place in the top three on floor because it is my favorite event. My vault and beam were also very strong, and my bars helped contribute to my all-around score. Overall, I had a solid meet and I had so much fun with my teammates and coaches."
Giancola says it's an amazing feeling to be a state qualifier for the second year in a row, especially since she will be competing in three events. Qualifying in the all-around competition has been a goal of hers for the past two seasons, so she's excited to have achieved that goal during her final year of high school competition.
"The support of my family, teammates and coaches gave me the drive to compete my very best," said Gialcola. "I am beyond excited to go to Columbus and show off what I have worked so hard for this year. I'm looking forward to simply having fun and enjoying my last high school gymnastics meet at the state level. Now that the hard work of qualifying is over, this is the fun part. I am looking forward to the laughs I will have with my teammates and all of the memories that will wrap up my season, just soaking every last bit of it in."
Knowing she has just one meet left in her high school career gives her mixed feelings, but Gialcola is ready for the moment.
"Even though I am looking forward to the state meet, I don't want my season to end. It is a bittersweet ending, but I am so fortunate and grateful to say that I am able to compete in Columbus one more time."
Follow Sophia Giancola and all of the state championship action online here.
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