North/Tartan senior Sydney Johnson captivated the crowd and captured two individual titles in the Class 2A state gymnastics meet Saturday afternoon at Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Johnson won on the balance beam with a 9.700 and claimed her second individual championship for her 9.750 floor routine. She finished third in the all-around competition with a 38.375, behind Monticello senior Lauren Hansen’s 38.600. Johnson said it came as a surprise, winning two individual titles. But the results did not come by accident. “I was not expecting this at all, like, at all,” Johnson said. “I worked hard for it, though.” Johnson scored a 9.575 on vault in the first rotation, jumping out in front in the all-around competition. It wound up being the seventh-best vault score of the meet. After a 9.350 on the uneven bars, the fifth-best score of the meet in the event, Johnson produced some magic with a 9.700 on balance beam in the fifth rotation. Johnson, in the seventh rotation, claimed the floor exercise lead, thanks to a score of 9.750, overtaking New Prague sophomore Hailey Proshek’s 9.700. The moment the judges produced her score for her floor routine, Johnson said it sank in that she was in contention for an individual title. “I’m still shocked about it,” Johnson said after collecting all five of her medals (the top eight finishers for each event received a medal). “It’s crazy.” Johnson received personal-best scores for her floor routine and balance beam. She said her relationship with her coaching staff allowed her to get to this moment. “They were very supportive,” Johnson said. “They were willing to work with me. I wanted to work with them. I’m thankful for them as well.” The North/Tartan coaching staff is made up of head coach Leah Ingram, along with assistant coaches Megan Weber, DMoe Ingram and Makayla Briggs. Schwellenbach second East Ridge senior Laney Schwellenbach was the final gymnast to go on the balance beam, needing a 9.450 to claim the all-around crown. A fall in the middle of her routine cost her a chance at the title, but she still finished second with a 38.400 overall score. In the individual events, Schwellenbach finished runner-up with a 9.625 on uneven bars and a 9.850 on vault. She also finished in third place with a 9.675 on floor. Related Articles State gymnastics: Monticello proves it belongs in 2A with team state title ...read more read less