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Janesville gymnasts take it to state

Janesville’s state gymnastics qualifiers are tournament-tested tough.

Craig High’s Becky Schneider and Sara Ennocenti and Parker’s Erika Whitson made it through the rugged Mukwonago Sectional to gain state berths.

“We were in the toughest sectional, no doubt about it,” said Craig Jean Welch. “Talent-wise, it was loaded.

“Look at the scores of our sectional and the other (sectionals). You see a couple good team scores, but then they fall off, but not at ours.’’

Among the talented teams at Mukwonago was the Franklin/Muskego/Oak Creek/Whitnall co-op, which won the sectional and is a favorite to win the state meet.

The WIAA Division 1 and 2 state meet is this weekend at Wisconsin Rapids High School. The individual competition is at 5:40 p.m. Friday, and the team event is at noon Saturday.

Schneider, a sophomore, won the all-around at Mukwonago with a score of 36.775, which included first place on the balance beam (9.475), third on uneven bars (9.125) and a tie for sixth on the vault. She was a state qualifier on the balance beam as a freshman.

“It was really amazing for Becky to win the all-around,” Welch said. “You had to be on to do it, and she did.’’

Schneider has been consistent performer all season, winning the Big Eight Conference all-around title. She set school records in the all-around (37.7), the uneven bars (9.55) and the balance beam (9.65).

“Becky can medal in the beam and bars,” Welch said. “If she starts out strong on beam, which is the first event (at state), it will give her confidence a boost.’’

Ennocenti, a junior, qualified for the second straight year after finishing third on the vault with a score of 9.25.

“Sara was close to a medal last year,” Welch said. “Sara and Becky have been to state and are coming back with more confidence. They both know what they have to do to step up.’’

Whitson, a junior, posted 9.5 in floor exercise for a second-place finish at the sectional to earn her third state appearance.

Whitson and Waterford’s Kaitlyn Kram tied for the state’s highest floor exercise score in the regular season, each with a 9.65. Whitson finished second to Kram at Mukwonago.

“She scored 9.65 at Westosha, which is a pretty prestigious meet,” said Parker coach Cathy Lehmann of Whitson.

Lehmann said Whitson is a strong gymnast with a lot of upside.

“She has skills, and she’s a perfectionist,” Lehmann said. “She has execution and amplitude. She has very good lines, and she is tuned.’’