Behind senior Mackenzie Barcelli’s all-around title, top-ranked Portage earned the team title in the 41st Annual IHSAA Gymnastics State Finals at Worthen Arena in Muncie on Saturday.

It was the school’s second state title in the sport, first since 1975 and eighth overall in school history. The Indians last won state championships in 1999-00 in boys cross country and 3A softball.

Barcelli became her school’s first all-around state champion by capturing the floor exercise with a score of 9.675 and second place finishes in the bars (9.650) and balance beam (9.350). Her efforts along with her teammates helped the Indians outdistance conference rival Valparaiso, 112.60 to 112.10.

Portage had finished second to Valpo at both the sectional and regional tournaments the previous two weekends, but made it count when it mattered. Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, the defending state champion, finished third with 110.975 points.

Senior Morgan Algozine finished her Valparaiso career with two more individual state championships to bring her total to six, tied for fourth most in state history. She won the uneven bars (9.70) for the second time in three years and repeated in the vault (9.875).

Chesterton’s Brandi Tuzinski finished 14th individually in the bars with a 9.125.

1 Portage, 112.60; 2. Valparaiso, 112.10; 3. FW Bishop Dwenger, 110.975; 4. Columbus North, 109.875; 5. Columbus East, 107.660; 6. Logansport, 105.75; 7. New Palestine, 104.625; 8. Homestead, 102.85.

Individual Champions

All-Around: Mackenzie Barcelli (Portage), 38.325.

Vault: Morgan Algozine (Valparaiso), 9.875.

Bars: Morgan Algozine (Valparaiso), 9.70.

Beam: Anna Watkin (Owen Valley), 9.575.

Floor: Mackenzie Barcelli (Portage), 9.675.

Posted 3/18/2013