Triway gymnasts capture 2nd straight NEGC crown
The Triway gymnastics team won a repeat NEGC title and will try to earn the program’s first district spot on Feb. 19. The team consists of coach Alisha Burkey, front left, Miley Jarvis, Ana Neuman, Kayleen Hutchison, Kaelee Garst, Parker Clippinger, coach Angie Mullen; standing on beam, Rileigh Hostetler, Alyse Stutz, Lilee Mullen and Addi Hudson.
The success of the Triway gymnastics team is one of the best stories taking place in Wayne County this winter.
Most of the girls on the varsity team started doing gymnastics while they were still in preschool. The experience and camaraderie has helped the Titans become the best gymnastics team in school history.
After winning the program’s first Northeast Gymnastics Conference title in 2022, the Titans made it back-to-back championships in January.
The girls are now working toward becoming the school’s first gymnastics team to advance to the district tournament. The Titans will compete at the Hudson Sectional on Feb. 19, where coach Angie Mullen believes they have a chance to earn a qualifying spot to the district at Hilliard Bradley.
“Most of our girls started gymnastics when they were 3, 4 or 5 years old and have been in it their entire life,” Mullen said. “That has helped tremendously to build our team and make it what it is because they have such a good base already.
“They practice year round. They’re always in season. They’re all good friends, and they’re respectful girls who work hard. They’re just a really good group of girls.”
Triway swept the first three places at the NEGC Meet with sophomore Addi Hudson (34.425) taking first in the all-around, followed by junior Alyse Stutz (34.25) and senior Kaelee Garst (33.475).
Hudson won the vault (8.9) and beam (8.975); Stutz was second on the bars (8.525), beam (8.95) and floor (8.75); and Garst won the floor (8.875).
Also contributing are seniors Ana Neuman and Kayleen Hutchison, juniors Rileigh Hostetler and Lilee Mullen, and freshmen Miley Jarvis and Parker Clippinger.
“We took first place in all events except bars,” Mullen said. “We also had five of the six top spots in all-around.”
Unlike other sports, all of the gymnastics teams compete in one division. The Hudson Sectional will be held over three days and is absolutely loaded, Mullen said.
Triway’s Sunday rotation will have 23 teams including fellow locals Wooster and Orrville. The top four teams and 12 individuals in each event will advance to the district.
“We were very close last year, and we’re a little stronger this year,” Mullen said. “The top three spots will be tough to get with Medina, Magnificat and Brunswick there, but I think we’re one of about three teams that could take that fourth spot depending on who’s on their game that day.
“I think Addi Hudson has a chance at also moving on to districts as an all-around gymnast.”
Bowling
The Triway girls and boys bowling teams both won Div. II sectional titles at AMF-Medina Lanes on Feb. 12. They both qualified for districts at Stonehedge Lanes on Feb. 25.
The girls racked up a complete series of 3,830 to win by 488 pins.
In individual competition, Addy Meshew led the way with a 620 series (194-222-204), followed by defending state champion Emma Yoder’s 606 (192-203-211). Danielle Densmore was solid with a 576 series.
The boys won the sectional with a 4,203 score to narrowly hold off a strong Clearview team.
Aeron Meshew rolled what coach Vince Yoder called an “astounding” 781 series (238-254-289) to win the sectional. Owen Fiesler was fourth with a 670 series (238-189-243).
Chad Harper, who was fourth for Triway at the sectional (566 series), stole the spotlight on Feb. 7 when he rolled a perfect 300 game against Louisville at Eastbury Lanes. It was the fourth 300 game in Triway’s 11-year bowling history and first since 2016.
Boys basketball
Triway (12-9, 10-3) started the week trailing only CVCA in the PAC. The ninth-seeded Titans will host No. 16 Northwestern in a Div. III sectional game on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. with the winner advancing to play at No. 11 Fairview Park on Feb. 24.
Zack Miller leads the team with 18.8 points a game, Drew Bishko is tops with 9.0 rebounds a game and Brayden Holt is averaging 2.1 assists a game.
“I feel we’ve yet to play our best ball yet,” coach Ben Holt said. “We are excited to play at home to start the tournament. Our guys are healthy and ready to go, and we’ve also recently found out that Cale Drown will be making his way back into the lineup after being out all season.”
Girls basketball
The Titans (14-8, 10-4) entered the week in third place in the PAC.
Coach Mike Miller earned his 500th career win after Triway’s 58-40 win over Fairless on Feb. 9. The 10th-seeded Titans hosted No. 17 Tuslaw in a Div. II sectional on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. with the winner moving on to visit No. 9 Cuyahoga Heights on Feb. 18.
Caitlin Titler, Leah Wirth, Kalie Campbell and Jaymes Gilbert have been some of the top performers.