Anna Schork, Aubrey Mueller lead area girls at GCC gymnastics meet

MEDINA — Anna Schork and Aubrey Mueller had all eyes on them as their gymnastics teams' aces at the Greater Cleveland Conference Meet. Both thrived under the pressure Thursday. Bees junior Schork won the balance beam and was second in the all-around and floor exercise, while Brunswick senior Mueller finished second on the uneven parallel bars and was third in the all-around and beam at Medina High. Strongsville junior Shayler Smith (35.8), Schork (35.65) and Mueller (35.35) were the only athletes to score higher than 34.75 points in the all-around at the six-team meet that was easily won by the Mustangs. "Last year, I took second when I was at my peak (health wise) and I did it again when I'm not, so I guess that's OK," said Schork, who has been hindered by right knee and left ankle injuries all winter. "I am glad that I competed all-around, even though I don't have the consistency I need yet." Schork began on the beam and put up a 9.35 that was only challenged by Smith's 9.3 the rest of the evening. The lone returning state qualifier in Medina County also debuted a new bar routine that earned her a third-place finish and she tied for sixth on the vault. She plans on refining a number of skills while continuing to rehabilitate her legs in preparation for the Hudson District on Feb. 22-23. "I'm going to be taking quality turns (in practice) and making sure I'm focusing on my form and the details," Schork said. Mueller matched her all-around showing from the GCC regular-season meet but upped her score by 0.9 thanks to a strong bars routine that earned an 8.7. She was most pleased, though, about her 9.0 on the beam. The fourth-year letterwinner added fourths on the vault and floor, joining Smith and Schork as the only gymnasts to reach the podium in every event. "Beam has been my hardest event all year, but the last two meets I've stayed on and got confident," Mueller said. "Really, our whole team is gaining confidence and continuing to get better." The Blue Devils finished second in the team standings with 136.55, while Medina scored a season-high 134.5 in placing third. Likely state qualifier Strongsville posted a 139.35 as each school, except Mentor, bettered their league regular-season meet marks. Notably, Brunswick had five girls medal despite Mueller being the only senior on its roster. Junior Delaney McKelvy was fourth on the bars, junior Madison Dempsey placed fifth on the vault, junior Elli Rahas finished sixth on the beam and freshman Alysia Guciardo was sixth on the bars in her initial postseason meet. "Alysia is just a baby, a little freshman, but she was solid all day," laughing Blue Devils coach Jacqueline George said. "Elli had a good beam and has the potential to get 9s, Delaney had a nice bars and Dempsey is still coming back from injuries." Medina junior Hailey Hofmann had reason to celebrate, as well, after finishing third on the vault. It was the first time she has taken on a competition surface since tearing a ligament in her left elbow in November. "I've vaulted onto soft landings, but this was a big step," a visibly pleased Hofmann said. "It's taken a lot of practice with (coach Darcy Ranallo) working with me on getting the height back, and I finally feel like myself again." Contact Brian Dulik at sports@medina-gazette.com. Follow @BrianDulik on X. ResultsTeam standings: 1. Strongsville 139.35, 2. Brunswick 136.55, 3. Medina 134.5, 4. Mentor 130.5, 5. Shaker Heights 58.25, 6. Cleveland Heights 21.35.Regular season meet: 1. Strongsville 138.4, 2. Brunswick 135.1, 3. Mentor 132.05, 4. Medina 121.4, 5. Shaker Heights 39.1.Overall standings: 1. Strongsville 12, 2. Brunswick 10, 3. Medina 7, 3. Mentor 7, 5. Shaker Heights 4, 6. Cleveland Heights 1.All-around — 1. Shayler Smith (Str) 35.8, 2. Anna Schork (Med) 35.65, 3. Aubrey Mueller (Bru) 35.35, 4. Gianna Upchurch (Str) 34.75, 5. Coral Bush (Mentor) 34.65, 6. Lauren Pozsonyi (Str) 34.15.Vault — 1. Shayler Smith (Str) 9.1, 2. Lauren Pozsonyi (Str) 8.85, 3. Hailey Hofmann (Med) 8.8, 4. Aubrey Mueller (Bru) 8.75, 5. Madison Dempsey (Bru) 8.65, 6. Anna Schork (Med) 8.6, 6. Gianna Upchurch (Str) 8.6.Uneven parallel bars — 1. Gianna Upchurch (Str) 9.3, 2. Aubrey Mueller (Bru) 8.7, 3. Anna Schork (Med) 8.5, 4. Delaney McKelvy (Bru) 8.45, 5. Shayler Smith (Str) 8.4, 6. Alysia Guciardo (Bru) 8.3.Balance beam — 1. Anna Schork (Med) 9.35, 2. Shayler Smith (Str) 9.3, 3. Aubrey Mueller (Bru) 9.0, 3. Coral Bush (Mentor) 9.0, 5. Mikaela Noirot (Str) 8.9, 6. Elli Rahas (Bru) 8.85.Floor exercise — 1. Coral Bush (Mentor) 9.3, 2. Anna Schork (Med) 9.2, 3. Shayler Smith (Str) 9.0, 4. Aubrey Mueller (Bru) 8.9, 5. Lauren Pozsonyi (Str) 8.8, 6. Emma Jurcich (Str) 8.75.