GRAND LEDGE - Grand Ledge High School hosted the Gymnastics Regionals on Saturday, March 5th. In spite of posting their best score of the season, the Grand Ledge gymnastics team (142.95) finished just seven tenths behind Howell (143.65), putting them in second place. Brighton came in third with 141.45. Grand Ledge Senior Rachel Hogan says the team has really been looking forward to this meet, “There’s no really off season in gymnastics so we have been practicing all summer for this.”

The State Championship will be held this Friday at 2:00 p.m. at Rockford High School, all three teams are invited to compete.

“My team has been injured a lot this season and I think this meet is the first where we’ve all really been back giving 100 percent, and I think what I’ve really learned from this whole season is to never give up, even when you are injured, just never give up,” says Hogan.

Hogan is the 2016 Regional All-Around Regional Champion in Division 1. She competed in all four events for her team and finished first on vault, bars, and beam, and second on floor.

Regionals was Hogan’s last home meet of her career. “I’m really excited that it’s regionals and that it’s a really big meet and I get to be here with all of the other teams, it’s nice. Everyone is really excited, we are doing really well right now. We are all just excited to be here and to be able to compete.”

There were four other individual qualifiers in Division 2 for Grand Ledge. Afton LaFrance was third on floor, Arianna Guerrero tied for fourth on floor, Ireland Bebee tied for seventh on vault, and Janelle Hall tied for seventh on vault, was eighth on beam and sixth on floor. Including Hogan, these five girls will compete for individual titles on Saturday in Rockford. Hogan says the team is hoping to finish strong at the State Championships.

The remaining teams finished as follows:
4. Linden-Fenton-Lake Fenton 139.975
5. Jackson Lumen Christi 136.425
6. Haslett-Williamston-Bath 135.60
7. Fowlerville-Byron 132.725
8. Parma Western 124.80
9. East Lansing 123.05
10. Holt 122.975