Austin’s Boyle finishes strong at state meet
Published 7:06 pm Saturday, February 24, 2018
- Austin’s Jen Boyle performs her floor routine at the Minnesota Class A state gymnatics meet at the University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
MINNEAPOLIS — Austin senior Jen Boyle saved her best for last.
Boyle put an end to her high school gymnastics career with an exclamation point as she reclaimed a bars title she initially won as a freshman and she ended up on the podium in three events at the Minnesota Class A state individual gymnastics meet in Minneapolis Saturday.
Austin’s Jen Boyle competes on the floor at the Minnesota Class A state gymnatics meet at the University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Boyle finished third in the all-around with a 37.6, she took first in bars with a 9.7 and she took fourth in vault with a 9.7. Since she’s likely to focus on school in college, it was likely the last time Boyle will ever compete in a gymnastics meet.
“I was nervous because I wanted to make my last meet my best one and I think I did that. This was my best state meet,” Boyle said. “I’m really proud how much of improved through the years and how much my hard work has paid off. I never really thought I would get on the podium for all-around so this was definitely a surprise.”
Boyle also won the state bars title as a freshman and she was able to rekindle some of that magic to get to the top again on Saturday.
Austin’s Jen Boyle dismounts from the bars at the Minnesota Class A state gymnatics meet at the University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
“I had to really clean things up and I worked a lot on my form to make sure there were no deductions,” Boyle said.
Austin sophomore Jordan DeLaMater finished 44th in the bars at state. She credited Boyle with helping her get to the state meet.
Jordan DeLaMater competes on the bars for the Packers at the Minnesota Class A state gymnatics meet at the University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
“It was exciting. It was a lot of fun being with Jen and helping her along today,” DeLaMater said. “Jen means a lot and she’s a huge part of this team. She’s a good a good coach and she pushes me a lot. When I don’t want to do something, she’ll help me do it.”
Austin junior Sam Sheldon took 15th in the beam in her first appearance at individual state meet.
Austin’s Sam Sheldon at the Minnesota Class A state gymnatics meet at the University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
“It was action packed and it was fun, I had a pretty good routine,” Sheldon said.
Boyle was glad to bring two teammates with her to state and she’ll be keeping her eyes on the Packers in the future.
“The team means so much to me and it’s so much fun to see them improve,” Boyle said. “I can’t wait to watch them grow because they have a lot of potential.”
AUSTIN RESULTS
Vault: Jen Boyle (fourth, 9.700)
Bars: Boyle (first, 9.700); Jordan DeLaMater (44th, 7.700)
Beam: Sam Sheldon (15th, 9.175); Boyle (29th, 8.750)
Floor: Boyle (10th, 9.450)
All-Around: Boyle (third, 37.600)
Austin’s Jen Boyle stands on the podium after winning the bars at the Minnesota Class A state gymnastics meet in the University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis Saturday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
