HILLIARD, Ohio — Heading into the final event of the 2019 OHSAA state gymnastics individual competition at Hilliard Bradley on Saturday, Brecksville senior Izabella Abookire held nothing back.
She had battled injuries throughout her gymnastics career, including a shoulder injury that required surgery as well as nagging leg pain. As a result, she only practiced on the uneven parallel bars once or twice a week.
But Abookire stepped up to the bars for her final event and scored a 9.500, earning her a state championship in the event.
“This was my best meet of my life,” Abookire said. “I’m just really thankful that I had the opportunity to compete today.
“All my hard work that I did before I got injured has finally paid off in the end.”
Abookire made the podium twice more on Saturday, including a third-place finish in the all-around (37.475). Sydney Bradley of Thornville Sheridan was the all-around champion (37.800) followed by Madeline Berrey of North Canton Hoover (37.525).
In addition to winning in the uneven bars, Abookire finished tied for second in the floor exercise (9.450).
“This is her last meet ever in gymnastics,” Brecksville coach Joan Ganim said. “So it was her desire to do the best she could. And she did, even though she was tired and in pain.
“A couple times, she wasn’t sure she was going to be able to get through the meet today. But we were talking about it. I said, ‘What do you want to do today? This is about you.’ And she had come through.”
Mentor senior Kelsey Morgan won on the balance beam (9.550), and Brunswick sophomore Jordyn Thomas won the floor exercise (9.475).
Other local competitiors who got on the podium in the all-around were North Royalton sophomore Mya Costello in fourth (37.075), Abookire’s teammate, sophomore Kaitlyn Dembie, who took fifth (9.550) and Thomas, who was tied for sixth (9.475).
Friday, Abookire and her team extended Brecksville's streak of consecutive team state championships to 16. It was all about the individuals on Saturday. And in her final meet, Abookire stayed consistent with three top-10 places. Two of her teammates made it onto the podium as well in different events. Dembie, who was third in the all-around last year, was the runner-up in the vault (9.550). Freshman Erin Delahunty took third on the beam (9.475) and just missed the podium, taking seventh on the vault (9.350).
Abookire’s high school gymnastics career is over. But she is pretty excited about the future as the Bees will try to extend their streak of state championships next season.
“The coaches have done this for 16 years in a row. So I’m not worried about them,” Abookire said. “Our freshmen, Lindsay (Kern) and Erin, did great. I’m really excited to see what they have in store next year.”
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