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Greenville
junior Paige Keller comes off the vault in the district meet
at Lakota Easy recently. Keller placed fourth
at state last Saturday in
the vault and was 11th in the all-around competition. CNO Photo by
Darrin Shook
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Keller eleventh
in state competition
Brisco said “no regrets”
By George Starks
HILLIARD- Gymnastics may not be the premier sport in Darke County, but
Darke County is well known for its gymnastics in the area.
Saturday at Hilliard-Bradley High School, Greenville’s Paige Keller let
the state know Darke County is alive and well in gymnastics.
The Wave junior placed fourth on the vault (9.625) Saturday and was
12th on the balance beam, giving her an 11th place finish in the
all-around competition for Darke County and head coach Jackie Brisco.
“I was very pleased with what I done,” said Keller. “It was one of my
most consistent meets of the whole year. I was really focused going
into the meet and I had a lot of built up confidence from what I had
done during the season so that made it easier going into the
competition.”
When Keller entered the gym, she knew things were different.
“I knew the competition was really tight there,” admitted Keller. “The
girls from the Cleveland area were really good and they definitely
brought it. It was really cool to watch them though because they threw
in some really hard tricks and it was fun to see what they could do.
You could tell they practice really hard.”
With the season being over, Keller is looking down the road and a
possible return trip to state.
“When track season is over, I will be back in the gym working,” said
Keller. “I want to go back and I think it will be good to have another
year under my belt. Jackie (Brisco) was really happy for me and she
knew I had done my best.”
Brisco was very pleased with the day.
I am very happy with the girls (Ansonia’s Samantha Shook) and the way
they performed,” said Brisco. “They were very motivated to do their
best and they did their best. Paige hit the vault first, nailed it and
I think that was the tone setter for the rest of the day. I was super
excited for her. When she did her second vault it seemed everything
came to a stop and all eyes were on her and she stuck it. She’s just
amazing and to be able to get that kind of respect that everyone
stopped what they were doing to watch her, that’s just pretty darn
cool.”
Coming in 11th, not only was Keller pleased but so was Brisco.
“I was hoping she could finish in the top ten but shoot, I’ll take
eleventh,” said Brisco. “I knew she could have a good meet and she was
solid. She did the best she could do and there are no regrets. She did
a great job. She stayed focused the whole day.”
Brisco also commented on Shook.
“She had a great day,” said Brisco. “After having to sit out five weeks
with a foot injury, she still worked hard, even with that boot on. Sam
and Paige are like two peas in a pod. They are there for each other and
they are each other’s biggest supporters. The four girls I had this
year were a pleasure. So when one of us makes it to state, we all make
it to state. I am so proud of them. For me, it was a day of getting to
hang out with the girls and enjoying the day and just having some fun.”
With the foot injury, Brisco had to make some changes in the routine of
Shook.
“I had to take some hard elements out of her routine so she wouldn’t
re-injure that foot,” said Brisco. “I think it hurt her in the end
because she fell in her first routine on the bars but she said it felt
great but she has no regrets. Her floor routine was solid and that
floor was very slick and hard to land on. I am so proud of both my
girls.”
Franklin Monroe’s Madison Myers was not able to make the trip but Wave
freshman Tessa Schatz did and Brisco said that it was a learning
experience for her.
“I think what Tessa took away from the state experience is the amount
of work that goes in to be a state qualifier,” said Brisco. “She knows
the caliber of gymnast that goes to the state level and for her, it’s
not that far out of reach.”
With several incoming freshman, Keller said she was ready to take on
the senior role and help them with their routines. She hopes the new
faces will take the lead over the next four years and that gymnastics
will become a school sport in Darke County.
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