Top of the mountain: Fadness wins all-around state title
Published 11:56 pm Saturday, February 23, 2013
Austin’s Sela Fadness was all smiles after completing her routine on the balance beam Saturday during the Class A Minnesota State Gymnastics Meet at the University of Minnesota’s Sports Pavilion. Fadness, who fell on the beam in the team competition, returned Saturday without a fall and finished second overall on the beam. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
MINNEAPOLIS — Sela Fadness’s moment finally came.
In her third trip to the Class ‘A’ state gymnastics meet, Fadness literally struck gold when she won the first state all-around individual title in Austin High School history at the University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion Saturday.
Fadness, who is a junior, also defended her floor championship, took first in the bars and finished second in the vault and beam.
Austin’s Sela Fadness comes off the vault during the Class A Minnesota State Gymnastics Meet individuals Saturday at the University of Minnesota’s Sports Pavilion. Fadness finished second in vault.
“It makes all the injuries and time worth it,” Fadness said. “I’m very thankful that I had the coaches, both in Pine Island and in Austin, that believed in me and knew I could do it. My work finally paid off.”
Fadness overcame her biggest obstacle when she recovered from an early stumble on the balance beam and finished the routine strong to score a 9.575 one day after she had fallen off the beam in the team state meet.
Fadness said she had struggled with falling on the beam routine for the first half of the season.
“It was very stressful,” Fadness said. “The only thing I was thinking was ‘stay on that beam. You can do it.’ Having a good bars (performance) in my back pocket made me way more confident.”
Fadness finished third in the all-around at state last season and the winner of that meet was Melrose’s Hailey Brinkman. This year Fadness had to square off against Hailey’s younger sister Jailyn Brinkman, who is a junior.
The two met a total of four times this season and Jailyn had a better score than Fadness at Friday’s team meet.
“She was on my back the whole meet (today),” Fadness said of Jailyn. “I was looking out for her. She beat me yesterday, but I was like ‘it’s my turn.’ I’m glad I was able to do that.”
Fadness finished the day with a 38.575 all-around score.
Jailyn finished fifth in the meet after falling on her last event, the bars. Alexandria’s Briquelle Bowden finished second with a score of 37.950.
Fadness was glad to share her state title with her family as her dad, Austin head basketball coach Kris Fadness, was on hand to watch along with the rest of the family.
“I try not to think about it. I love that they’re here supporting me, but when I’m competing I didn’t affect me,” Fadness said.
AUSTIN RESULTS
All-Around: Sela Fadness (first, 38.575); Maddie Mullenbach (fourth, 36.925); Abby Bickler (ninth, 36.6)
Vault: Fadness (second, 9.725); Mullenbach (third, 9.70); Bickler (20th, 9.2)
Austin’s Sela Fadness stands atop the podium after she was named Class A state champion in the all around Saturday at the Minnesota State Gymnastics Meet at the University of Minnesota’s Sports Pavilion. Teammate Maddie Mullenbach finished fourth in the all around.
Bars: Fadness (first, 9.6); Mullenbach (14th, 9.075); Bickler (15th, 8.9)
Floor: Fadness (first, 9.675); Mullenbach (third, 9.5125); Bickler (sixth, 9.450); Carolyn Hackel (10th, 9.350)
Beam: Fadness (second, 9.575); Abby Snater (13th, 9.2); Mullenbach (20th, 8.950); Bickler (14th, 9.150)
Full Packer gymnastics coverage:
- Top of the mountain: Fadness wins all-around state title
- Gallery: Featuring gymnastics
- Packers place three in top-10 at state individual meet
- Live updates from Packers at state gymnastics
- Packer gymnasts take third at state behind New Prague and Melrose
- The Fantastic Floor: Packers set a state record
