District gymnastics: Medina's Anna Schork qualifies to state for third straight year

HUDSON — Anna Schork has three-peated as a qualifier for the state gymnastics meet. The Medina junior finished second on the balance beam, fourth in the all-around, sixth in the floor exercise and 10th on the vault at the Hudson District on Saturday, locking up four individual bids for the March 2 meet at Hilliard Bradley. Schork was a beam qualifier as a freshman and competed in four events at the championship meet in 2024, in addition to being part of the Bees' state team meet qualifiers both seasons. "I didn't come in here with set expectations, but my goal was to make it to state," she said. "I just wanted to hit all my events and I did, so I'm really excited to go back." Schork also is the third alternate for state on the uneven parallel bars after placing 13th in one of two most egregious judging decisions of the 11-hour meet at Hudson High. Despite having a 9.9-point start value and not making a major mistake, she only received an 8.825. The low-balled number prompted legendary Magnificat coach Joe Gura to confront the chief judge several times on the main floor, pleading Schork's case as emotions rose along with the temperatures in the gym throughout the evening. "Anna was able to rely on her competitiveness and talent to put together quite a district performance," said Bees coach Darcy Ranallo, who filed a formal appeal on the score. "There's not much you can do about the scoring except try and move past it. And Anna did." Wadsworth senior Stephanie Novak is playing the waiting game, as well, after finishing 13th on the beam with a career-high 9.15. She will make her state debut if three of the top 10 are unable to compete — a decent possibility, given that most will be in the state team meet on March 1. Regardless of what plays out, the four-year letterwinner was ecstatic about her beam routine. "I was really nervous going in because I knew it was my last event and I didn't want to end my career on a bad note," Novak said. "Beam is my favorite event, and it went really well." Medina junior Hailey Hofmann made a push toward a state bid by finishing 16th on the beam and 24th in the all-around. The co-captain also flipped her vault and picked up all of her bars requirements, formally completing her comeback from a torn ligament in her left elbow. "I am disappointed that I did not qualify for state, but am extremely proud of my performance overall," said Hofmann, who scored a season-high 34.3 in the all-around. "Coming so close just gives me more determination for next year." Schork and Hofmann fueled the best day of the year for the Bees, who finished fifth and exceeded their seed by two spots. Their total of 137.4 was, incredibly, 30 points higher than what they scored at their opener and far away their best since last March. Bethany Hofmann was 31st in the all-around and fellow freshman Brianna DeBow finished 29th in the vault for Medina. "Since only three of us were returning members (with sophomore Caitlyn Oehlers), we didn't know what to expect," Hailey Hofmann said. "None of us expected this much improvement. We will continue working hard and will come back even stronger next year." North East Gymnastics Conference champion Wadsworth was ninth in the 22-team competition. Perennial state champion Brecksville, Magnificat and Berea-Midpark were 1-2-3 and far and away the class of the field. Grizzlies rookie Riley Shammo, a sophomore, placed 19th on both the bars and floor and finished 22nd in the all-around. Freshman Julia Hartman put her considerable charisma on display with a floor routine that was 35th. "Riley has been consistent all year, and next year she'll know what to expect when she comes back," chuckling Wadsworth coach Kelly Murphy said. "And Julia is my showgirl. Her personality just jumps out at you." Contact Brian Dulik at sports@medina-gazette. Follow @BrianDulik on X. Results(top 3 teams and 10 individuals in each event to state meet)Team standings: 1. Brecksville 148.775, 2. Magnificat 143.625, 3. Berea-Midpark 140.85, 4. Padua 138.2, 5. Medina 137.4, 6. Walsh Jesuit 136.225, 7. Solon 135.05, 8. Nordonia 134.4, 9. Wadsworth 133.45, 10. Wooster 130.4.All-around — 1. Tessa Brousek (P) 37.425, 2. Gianna Ravagnani (Bre) 37.375, 3. Molly Francis (Bre) 37.35, 4. Anna Schork (Med) 36.975, 5. Samantha Tokar (Stow) 36.95, 6. Abby Pignatiello (Bre) 36.9, 22. Riley Shammo (Wad) 34.425, 24. Hailey Hofmann (Med) 34.3.Vault — 1. Molly Francis (Bre) 9.65, 2. Brousek (P) 9.525, 3. Ravagnani (Bre) 9.525, 4. Olivia Vaslie (Bre) 9.5, 5. Chloe Bibbo (Mag) 9.4, 6. Mackenzie Lewis (B-M) 9.375, 10. Schork (Med) 9.275.Uneven parallel bars — 1. McKenna Shane (WJ) 9.325, 2. Ravagnani (Bre) 9.3, 3. Molly Francis (Mag) 9.2, 4. Abby Pignatiello (Bre) 9.2, 5. Tokar (Stow) 9.2, 6. Sarah Van Dress (B-M) 9.075, 13. Schork (Med) 8.825, 19. Shammo (Wad) 8.65.Balance beam — 1. Brousek (P) 9.6, 2. Schork (Med) 9.5, 3. Rachel Kirin (Bre) 9.425, 4. Francis (Mag) 9.4, 5. Pignatiello (Bre) 9.4, 6. Avery Butler (Bre) 9.35, 13. Stephanie Novak (Wad) 9.15. 16. Hofmann (Med) 9.1.Floor exercise — 1. Rachel Kirin (Bre) 9.525, 2. Ravagnani (Bre) 9.5, 3. Rachel Kelly (Bre) 9.475, 4. Samantha Singleton (Sol) 9.45, 5. Brousek (P) 9.375, 6. Schork (Med) 9.375, 19. Shammo (Wad) 9.0.