District Gymnastics: North Ridgeville resident Molly Francis dominates, winning all-around title and three events

HUDSON — All eyes were on Molly Francis on the second day of the district gymnastics meet. The Magnificat junior and North Ridgeville resident flourished Sunday under the spotlight. Francis won championships in the all-around, vault, balance beam and floor exercise and was the runner-up on the uneven parallel bars to advance to the state meet in the maximum five individual events. The epic performance allowed the Blue Streaks to edge Strongsville for the overall title by 0.025 points, sending them to the state team meet with momentum. Hilliard Bradley will host both Ohio championship meets next weekend. "It gives you a lot of confidence, going in knowing you have the best girl in the competition," Magnificat coach Joe Gura said of Francis. "Molly is consistent and works hard every day. I'm glad she got her just rewards for it today." Francis ran away from the field in claiming the all-around by 1.525 points over Strongsville's Lauren Pozsonyi and Berea-Midpark's Josie Swartz, who tied for second. Her margin of victory on the floor was almost as impressive, topping Fairview's Sylvia Jankowski by .325. The latter was the Blue Streaks' second-to-last event of the day and afforded her the chance to showcase her personality, along with her fierce competitiveness. "Floor was so fun and I fought for every 10th of a point that I could," Francis said. "When we were done there, I really wanted to stick my vault — and I did." Her 9.625 on the vault was the highest score in any event on the afternoon. Teammates Chloe Bibbo and Lyla Sanuk were second and third, providing Magnificat with the finish it needed to defeat the Greater Cleveland Conference champion Mustangs. Francis, who shared the 2025 state beam crown with Marion Harding's Divine Reynolds, received a 9.55 in her victory. Strongsville's Lauren Pozsonyi denied her a clean sweep by taking first on the bars by .025. "I'm really happy with how consistent I was today," Francis said. "After I hit my beam, I felt pretty confident the rest of the way." Perennial state champion Brecksville is favored to continue its reign in five days at state, but the Blue Streaks and Mustangs are aiming to make it a three-team race. Francis said she was "super happy" that her team will get another crack at the Bees. "It's going to be fun," Gura said. "Let's see what happens." Avon sophomore Ryan Garlitz, in her second district meet, was part of a rotation with Berea-Midpark and Fairview that followed Magnificat to each station. She more than held her own with a 31.35 in the all-around, which was the second-best total by a Lorain County athlete in the five sessions at Hudson. Her top mark was an 8.25 on the floor, and she exceeded 8.0 on the vault and bars, as well. "I knew it would be hard with the great competition here, but I had a great time," Garlitz said. "Everyone made me feel welcome and I was really happy with my vault and floor." Alayna Nickoloff of Amherst had a 28.775 in the all-around, while Lydia Jacobs scored a team-best 29.25 for Elyria Catholic. "It was a good way to finish the season for them," Comets and Panthers coach Adam Chapek said. Avon Lake freshman Samantha Carbone was the only local gymnast to place in the top 40 on the opening day of the district, finishing 29th on the beam and 38th on the floor. She also was a county-best 49th in the all-around. Contact Brian Dulik at sports@medina-gazette.com. Follow @BrianDulik on X. SundayHudson District IITeam standings (top two to state): 1. Magnificat 143.1, 2. Strongsville 143.075, 3. Berea-Midpark 138.6, 4. Brunswick 136.775, 5. St. Joseph Academy 132.525, 6. Painesville Riverside 132.375, 7. Mentor 129.0, 8. Twinsburg 127.075, 9. Nordonia 125.95, 10. Massillon Jackson 125.925, 11. Pepper Pike Orange 124.425, 12. Stow 116.325, 13. Canton McKinley 113.825, 14. Massillon Washington 107.175, 15. Aurora 95.875, 16. Shaker Heights 26.4.Individual results (top six to state)All-around: 1. Molly Francis (Magnificat) 37.9, 2. Lauren Pozsonyi (Strongsville) 36.375, 3. Josie Swartz (Berea-Midpark) 36.375, 4. Natalie Magerum (Nordonia) 35.275, 5. Jillian Galich (Hudson) 35.275, 6. Sylvia Jankowski (Fairview) 34.95.Vault: 1. Molly Francis (Magnificat) 9.625, 2. Chloe Bibbo (Magnificat) 9.55, 3. Lyla Sanuk (Magnificat) 9.425, 4. Natalie Magerum (Nordonia) 9.2, 5. Ella Gus (St. Joseph) 9.2, 6. Aleksia Jacoby (Perry) 9.15.Uneven parallel bars: 1. Lauren Pozsonyi (Strongsville) 9.175, 2. Molly Francis (Magnificat) 9.15, 3. Jillian Galich (Hudson) 9.15, 4. Josie Swartz (Berea-Midpark) 9.05, 5. Abigail Burik (Strongsville) 9.0, 6. Delaney McKelvy (Brunswick) 8.975.Balance beam: 1. Molly Francis (Magnificat) 9.55, 2. Gabby Mullen (Triway) 9.525, 3. Lauren Pozsonyi (Strongsville) 9.275, 4. Josie Swartz (Berea-Midpark) 9.225, 5. Ally Gryskiewicz (Highland) 9.2, 6. Ella Gus (St. Joseph) 9.15.Floor exercise: 1. Molly Francis (Magnificat) 9.575, 2. Sylvia Jankowski (Fairview) 9.25, 3. Mia Petrigac (Riverside) 9.2, 4. Jillian Galich (Hudson) 9.15, 5. Allison Urbas (Riverside) 9.125, 6. Josie Swartz (Berea-Midpark) 9.1. SaturdayHudson District ITeam standings (top three to state): 1. Brecksville 144.15, 2. Chagrin Falls Kenston 141.375, 3. Solon 139.5, 4. Medina 137.125, 5. Buckeye 135.35, 6. Wooster 134.225, 7. North Royalton 130.775, 8. North Olmsted 129.75, 9. Chardon 126.075, 10. Olmsted Falls 125.9, 11. Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 125.425, 12. Mayfield 122.425, 13. Wadsworth 121.5, 14. Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit 119.825, 15. Avon Lake 119.775, 16. West Geauga 116.825, 17. Lakewood 116.075, 18. North Ridgeville 112.9, 19. Green 111.3, 20. Uniontown Lake 107.95, 21. Shaker Heights Laurel 64.025.Individual results (top 10 to state)All-around: 1. Samantha Singleton (Solon) 38.0, 2. Sofia Macias (Kenston) 37.5, 3. Anna Schork (Medina) 36.1, 4. Ava Cavalli (West Geauga) 35.875, 5. Luca Salupo (Olmsted Falls) 35.775, 6. Nevaeh Sejka (Buckeye) 35.675.Vault: 1. Samantha Singleton (Solon) 9.65, 2. Olivia Vasile (Brecksville) 9.6, 3. McKinley Hackett (Wooster) 9.55, 4. Emily Gromek (Brecksville) 9.35, 5. Sofia Macias (Kenston) 9.3, 6. Abby Pignatiello (Brecksville) 9.25.Uneven parallel bars: 1. Samantha Singleton (Solon) 9.275, 2. Sofia Macias (Kenston) 9.225, 3. Anna Schork (Medina) 9.125, 4. Ava Cavelli (West Geauga) 9.1, 5. Nevaeh Sejka (Buckeye) 9.0, 6. Angelina Colombi (Chardon) 8.9.Balance beam: 1. Sofia Macias (Kenston) 9.5, 2. Samantha Singleton (Solon) 9.475, 3. Rachel Kirin (Brecksille) 9.35, 4. Ryleigh Offutt (Kenston) 9.2, 5. Luca Salupo (Olmsted Falls) 9.2, 6. Anya Dzyubinsky (Solon) 9.15.Floor exercise: 1. Samantha Singleton (Solon) 9.6, 2. Rachel Kirin (Brecksville) 9.525, 3. Sofia Macias (Kenston) 9.475, 4. Olivia Vasile (Brecksville) 9.4, 5. McKinnely Hackett (Wooster) 9.3, 6. Anna Schork (Medina) 9.225.