Canton High School's Ayana Lewis Wins State Gymnastics Title

gymnast Ayana Lewis took first place in the Division 2 individual vault competition at the gymnastics state finals in Grand Rapids on Saturday, putting an exclamation point on the school's weekend performance.

The Chiefs took second place in team competition on Friday, edged out by tournament favorite Grand Ledge, in what team coach John Cunningham summed up with one word.

"I think the word for their performance is great," he said about his squad. 

The Canton girls accumulated a tournament score of 37.150 on Friday, to Grand Ledge's 37.850, which Cunningham had a feeling might happen. He said that Grand Ledge was the team to beat going into the tournament, and even after gaining almost a point lead on them after two events, he knew their athletes were too strong to keep down all day.

"We couldn't overcome their strength," he said. "And we didn't intend to. I told the girls they only give out two awards, and one is to Grand Ledge. So, you know what your job is. And they came through."

He specifically cited Grand Ledge star gymnast Alexis Bylington, who took home first place medals in Division 1 vault (with a 9.8 score) and first place in overall competition (for a 38.375 day total). Northville's Allison Kemp was right behind her with 2nd place in Division 1 vault (9.6), and took sixth place in all-around  competition (36.950).

But the Canton girls put up a concerted fight on Saturday, with six of the eight bringing home medals. Aside from her 1st place medal in vault, Ayana Lewis also took second in the Division 2 uneven parallel bars, second place in all-around competition and seventh place on balance beam.

Erica Lucas tied for third place in Division 2 vault with Farmington-Harrison's Stephanie Sanders, and Kali Pierce tied for seventh place in Division 2 floor routine with both Grand Ledge's Presley Allison and Troy-Athens/Auburn Hills-Avondale's Jaclynn Stewart. Melissa Green tied for eighth place in Division 1 vault with Adrian's Nicole Fischhoff.

Alex Fideler tied for third in Division 1 balance beam with Kenowa Hills' Taylor Teppen and Saline's Katie Karcher, and shared sixth place in Division 1 floor routine with teammate Robyn Piwowar, Troy's Christine Shabet and Mason's Becca O'Keefe. Piwowar also garnered sixth place in Division 1 vault, ninth place in balance beam and seventh for all-around performance (right behind Northville's Allison Kemp).

After the tournament, Robyn Piwowar was also named Senior Gymnast of the Year by the Coaches Association.