Coffman’s Yoshino, Berlin’s Balthaser vying to become central Ohio's top gymnast

One thing is certain about this gymnastics season in central Ohio: There will be a new district all-around champion.

Raegan Ernst won four consecutive district all-around titles for Dublin Jerome, capping her prep career last March by becoming the Central District’s fourth all-around state champion.

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Who might succeed Ernst at the top of the podium? Her high school coach, Kristen Willms, who leads all three Dublin programs, might not have far to look.

Coffman senior Emily Yoshino was on pace to join Ernst at state last season before suffering a fractured right fibula while competing on the uneven bars during a meet in late January. While Ernst is now competing for the Dayton women’s track and field team, Yoshino is preparing “to be the best that I can be” for the Shamrocks this winter.

“Last year, before my injury, Raegan and I were battling for first and second,” Yoshino said. “We were really good teammates. I’ve known her for so long. We actually went to Integrity (Gymnastics) together, so that’s how I know her, and her family is awesome, too. It’s going to be a big spot to fill after she (graduated). I look forward to the challenge.”

Yoshino also is a standout in tennis and track at Coffman. She’s a Central Michigan commit in the pole vault.

“My leg is feeling good,” she said. “I’m a little rusty on my routines, but that’s normal early in the season. I’m at about 90, 95 percent. The percent that is not there is the mental part. I’m physically back.”

Yoshino was eighth at district in the all-around as a freshman and then shared the title as a sophomore with Ernst. She went on to place 14th in the all-around and second on floor exercise at state that season.

“Emily is looking really good,” Willms said. “Coming back from surgery, it’s going to depend on how she holds up. She’s feeling good right now. She has the majority of her skills back and she’s getting stronger. It’s going to depend on that longevity of how that leg holds up for the next four months.

“I’m hopeful that Emily can finish off her gymnastics career the way we hoped her season would end last year. Emily and Raegan were neck and neck last season before her injury.”

Olentangy Berlin coach Jen Hedrick said it will be hard to replace Ernst, but several gymnasts have the potential.

“It’s going to be hard to be the next Raegan Ernst and that definitely leaves a big opening because she was an amazing gymnast,” Hedrick said. “Some of our girls are excited for that challenge and I do have a couple of girls that could be right up there with Raegan, and then I have some who don’t want the pressure. They just want to have fun, which is absolutely OK.”

Berlin senior Stephanie Balthaser has competed at state in the individual and team meets the past three seasons. Last season, she finished 10th in the all-around (36.2) for the second-best area score behind Ernst’s 37.6.

“We have a good, solid team with multiple girls who are good all-around gymnasts,” Balthaser said. “There’s so many opportunities with how many (former) club gymnasts we have and there’s a good chance that one of the top gymnasts could be on Berlin.”

Berlin junior Alexandra Downing finished 26th in the all-around (35.05) at state last winter.

“We have a lot of talent this year,” Downing said. “All the girls that went to state last year are even better this year. We even have some freshman girls who are going to do really well.”

Now in their fifth season, the Bears have established themselves as a power. They won district with a program-record 146.025 last season and went on to tie for sixth (142.6) at state.

“I’m excited for this season,” Hedrick said. “We were sad to lose the girls that we lost, but we’ve got a great group of girls back and I have some new ones who are going to do great also. ... I’ve been dealt a great group of girls in the last five years.”

Another contender for the district all-around title is Olentangy Orange junior Jade Gerhard, who finished second on bars (9.3), tied for 12th on vault (9.3) and tied for 16th in the all-around (35.925) at state last season.

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This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Central Ohio high school gymnastics season preview