By DAVID VANTRESS

For the Northwest News

The Carroll High School gymnastics team wrapped up the 2022-23 season with a trip to the IHSAA state meet in Muncie.

The Chargers finished eighth as a team in the March 11 state finals at Worthen Arena at Ball State University with 102.70 points.

Valparaiso won the state championship with 112.35 points. Homestead was second with 111.625. Bishop Dwenger was sixth with 106.15 points.

The Chargers were led in the all-around competition by Audrey Graf, who finished 20th (34.65). Avery Ziembo was 21st (34.45); Natalie Smith 26th (26.275); and Leah Stuckey 43rd (15.825).

Graf was 34th in the vault (8.925). Ziembo finished 36th (8.875); Smith tied for 38th (8.725); and Stuckey was 44th (8.50).

In the uneven bars, Ziembo finished tied for 24th (8.275). Graf was 29th (8.15); Stuckey 38th (7.325) and Cameryn Foster tied for 39th (7.20).

Graf led Carroll with her 14th-place finish in the balance beam (8.875). Smith was tied for 22nd (8.70). Zembo finished 24th (8.675) and Maleah Turner was 34th (8.125).

In the floor exercise, Smith had the Chargers’ best effort, finishing tied for 30th (8.85). Graf was tied for 33rd (8.70); Ziembo tied for 35th (8.625) and Aliyah Sauder finished 42nd (8.525).

Longtime Carroll coach Rosemary Scheele, who is assisted by her husband Scott, said it’s been a great working relationship over the years.

“We enjoy coaching together,” Scheele said.

The Chargers are regular participants in the state meet, Scheele said, some years as a team, others with individual qualifiers. They went as a team last season and finished ninth.

Scheele said she was proud of this year’s team, especially how fundamentally sound it was.

“Our girls are clean,” Scheele said. “They stay on the beam, they’re not falling all over the place.”

The Chargers had 13 girls total on the team this year, with seven total competing at the Huntington North Regional where Carroll finished third.

“We just went into regional, and did what we do,” Scheele said. “Everybody has a job.”

At the regional, the Chargers edged out fourth-place Angola by three points to earn their spot at state.

Scheele said no matter the finish, going to the state meet was a great experience for the Chargers.

“It’s a great learning experience, and I told the girls to represent themselves, represent their teammates, and represent the school,” Scheele said.