Jeff Chaney
Sports Scene
WALKER — Ayana Lewis was proud of the way her Canton gymnastics team performed at this year’s Michigan High School Athletic Association Team Gymnastics Finals at Kenowa Hills High School March 9.
But the senior leader has had just about enough of finishing second to a bunch of Comets.
For the second straight year, Canton was runner-up to Grand Ledge in the final team standings. The Chiefs finished with an impressive score of 148.575, but the Comets won their fifth straight team title with 149.400 points.
“I’m happy to take second,” Lewis said. “I’m very proud of the girls, no matter what place were were. We tried our best, and this was the outcome.”
Canton coach John Cunningham was just as proud of how his team battled with a Grand Ledge team that continues to build on its dynasty.
“Second for the second year in a row,” Cunningham said. “Last year we had no chance to be first, but this year we gave them a run for it.”
The Chiefs were within striking distance with one rotation to go. But the final rotation found Canton on the balance beam, where it stuggled a bit, while Grand Ledge had a solid rotation on the uneven bars.
“Unfortunately, we needed to be fantastic on the beam, and we were just good,” Cunningham said. “Our No. 1 girl [Lewis] fell twice, but everyone else stayed on. A lot of time it’s not the pressure, it’s just that they are that much better.”
Canton ended with a score of 36.700 on the balance beam, while the Comets’ 37.325 score on the bars sealed the win for Grand Ledge.
“This has been an extremely surprising team,” Cunningham said. “Two of our record holders left the team from last year, so it was supposed to be a rebuilding year. But they were shockingly good.”
Lewis led the team. “She is one of those pleasures in coaching,” Cunningham said. “Ayana was our leader. She broke three records this year. The all around, bars, and beam record are off the board now.”
Lewis has some unfinished individual business to take care of now.
Last year she was second to Grand Ledge’s Christine Wilson in the final Division 2 standings. On Saturday, the two will go head-to-head in Division 1 at Kenowa Hills.
“I’m going to go all out,” Lewis said. “This is my last year, and my last meet, and I want to go out with a bang.”
Wilson led the Comets to their win Friday with a score of 38.650, while Lewis had a 36.350, including a tough 7.700 on the balance beam.