Photos by Brett Nachtigall/Fall River County Herald-Star
LEFT: Hot Springs senior Kiera Allen gets set to begin her giants while competing on the uneven bars during the second day of this past weekend’s State Class “A” Gymnastics Championships in Pierre. She would go on to win this event with a score of 9.15. RIGHT: Hot Springs junior Peyton Stewart peforms on the balance beam and scores a 9.283 to place third. Both Allen and Stewart placed in the top-seven of the All-Around and earned All-Tournament Team honors.
Hot Springs senior Carlie DeBoer smiles to the judge while wrapping up her floor exercise during Team Day of the State Class “A” Gymnastics Championships in Pierre.
PIERRE – It was a very successful and memorable weekend in Pierre at the South Dakota Class “A” Gymnastics Championships, as the Hot Springs Bison gymnasts earned their second consecutive third place team plaque on Day 1 and then also crowned an individual state champion on Day 2, as senior Kiera Allen won the uneven bars. In addition, both Allen and junior Peyton Stewart were named to the All-Tournament team as each placed in the top-7 of all-around with Stewart also placing third on the balance beam.
“All the girls were ready to compete, had fun and competed their best. Nothing but praise for these girls,” said Hot Springs head coach Dana Nachtigall, who was also inducted into the South Dakota Gymnastics Coaches Hall of Fame during a brief awards ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 10.
To place third as a team, the Hot Springs gymnasts were led by Allen and Stewart, along with senior Carlie DeBoer, to score a total of 136.461. Other gymnasts who competed for Hot Springs included Brooklyn Smith, Rose Burchfield, Charli Christiansen, Jada Berkley, Riley Lockhart and exhibition gymnast Sydney Lockhart and alternate Hilary Lane.
After being a member of the Hot Springs Bison gymnastics team since middle school, and an important part of last year’s third place team, DeBoer said that this year has been more than she ever thought possible.
“Coming back with another third place title at state meant a lot to me and to us as a team,” DeBoer said “I’m so very proud of everyone that contributed to that accomplishment.”
Estelline/Hendricks repeated as the state team champions with 142.598 followed by Madison in second place with 138.911. Britton-Hecla was fourth with 134.794, followed by Parkston/ Ethan/Hanson/Mt. Vernon (134.73), Deuel (132.212), Chamberlain (130.427) and Vermillion (127.127).
Hot Springs’ highest scoring event on team day was floor exercise where they earned a 35.015 combining the top four scores on the team, followed by 34.782 on vault, 34.383 on beam and 32.181 on bars.
The individual competition on Day 2 had many highlights, but none better than Allen winning the uneven bars with a score of 9.15, which gave the school it’s first individual gymnastics state champion since 1987, when Kim Hickman won the floor exercise.
Allen’s accomplishment this season on the uneven bars – which includes twice breaking her own school record – almost didn’t happen after a scary injury on the event during a competition last season in Madison. While she came back to compete on balance beam at last year’s state meet, she did not know whether or not she would ever be able to return to the mat for any other events.
“To win a state title my senior year after not knowing if I could ever do the sport again was astounding,” Allen said. “I’ve been going for a bars title every year since I was a freshman and to finally get it made my year more memorable.”
Allen’s win on bars helped to propel her to a third place finish in the allaround with a score of 36.199, behind only Sadie Johnson of Estelline/ Hendicks (37.982) and Karlie Nelson of Madison (36.349). Allen was also eighth on floor (9.3) and 10th on beam (8.966).
Stewart meanwhile earned Hot Springs’ second all-around medal as she placed seventh overall with a score of 35.449. Her day, which also happened to be her 17th birthday, was also highlighted by a third place finish on balance beam (9.283) and two ninth place medals on floor (9.15) and bars (8.333).
“The feeling of making the All Tournament team again and placing third on beam is unreal,” Stewart said. “The excitement my team gives me when doing my routines is unbelievable. It means the world to me to be able to have all my hard work pay off. I couldn’t have done any of this without my team. But mostly couldn’t have done it without our amazing coach. She is always willing to learn new things to make us as great as we can be.”
DeBoer also had a strong final state meet and finished 13th on bars (8.216) while also competing on floor (8.733) and vault (31st / 8.533).
Eighth-grader Brooklyn Smith qualified to competed on three events for the Bison including vault (30th / 8.55), bars (28th / 7.516) and beam (20th / 8.4). Freshman Charli Christiansen also competed on bars (33rd / 7.383).
“To bring home a third place for team, a third on beam for Peyton, and a State Champion for Kiera on bars and both these girls earning All State Tournament team, just topped off a great weekend overall for the team,” said Coach Nachtigall. “You always want for your seniors to go out knowing that they did their best routines to finish off their career and our three seniors – Carlie, Kiera and Sydney did just that. With that, the rest followed suit, with Peyton, Rose, Riley, Brooklyn, Charli, Jada and Hilary bringing their bests as well.”
For seniors Kiera Allen and Carlie DeBoer, this past season and last week’s State Meet marked the end of an importance chapter in their lives.
“I loved the team and the dynamic we had with each other,” said Allen. “Being with this team gave me the knowledge of sisterhood that wasn’t exactly everybody else’s. Yes, we had our ups and downs but we always came together to support each other till the end. Being a Bison gymnast these past four years has been such an experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything else. At our state meet I know we tried our hardest to get the state title but ended up with third which is something I’m incredibly proud of.”
DeBoer had similar thoughts on her final state meet as well.
“I have been a part of the Bison gymnastics team for five years now,” said DeBoer, “and I would have to say the thing I love most is how much our team feels like a family. We’re all just sisters. We did the best we could (at State) and came out very well in the end. I am very proud of everyone and myself for ending the season on a high note.”
Stewart, who will be returning to the team next year as one of its leaders once again, said what she loves most about competing on the Bison gymnastics team is the love she feels from her teammates.
“For everything you do, they are always right by your side to encourage you,” Stewart said, State this past weekend was so much fun. I love the adrenaline I got during my routines from hearing all the screaming and cheering for me. We all did so amazing and I just love watching everyone’s hard work pay off in their beautiful routines. We worked so hard to get where we are and placing third as a team means so much to me.”