Farmington shines at state finals, earns regional championship

FARMINGTON — Depth was the topic of conversation revolving around Farmington United gymnastics entering the 2023 season.

Following the departure of two impact seniors in Kamini Playle and Sara Lashbrook, Farmington looked to its core of seniors and young talent to improve on its 10th-place finish at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division I State Finals last season.

On March 10 at White Lake Lakeland High School, Farmington earned third place at the MHSAA Division I State Finals, its highest placement since it won back-to-back state titles in 2018 and 2019.

“I was really happy,” Farmington coach Jeff Dwyer said. “We went into our regional meet; I lost my No. 2 girl (Leah Hodge) to a knee injury. Our depth was unbelievable because we ended up winning our region, and then we went on to states without this gymnast and finished third.”

Farmington carried the momentum of a first-place finish at the Region 4 Championship on March 4 at Lakeland High School into the state finals, which was forefronted by Farmington’s 2025 class.

While sophomore Hodge was sidelined due to injury, her contributions to Farmington this season were immeasurable alongside a strong sophomore class of Elena Anzivino, Sophia Yee and Bella Thibadeau. Freshman Ayla Hougard provided reliable scores at the state finals, as well.

The sophomores flexed their muscles at the state finals and regionals as Yee had a strong showing, earning ninth on floor and 16th in the all-around at the state finals, and added a fifth-place finish in the all-around at regionals.

Anzivino added to the sophomore standouts, tallying fifth in vault, 13th in bars, and she was the regional champion on vault, while Thibadeau had a pair of performances she’ll never forget.

Finishing sixth on bars at the state finals, as the regional champion on bars, and second in the all-around at regionals, Dwyer said, Thibadeau’s improvements this season were pivotal for the team.

“She stepped up at the right time,” Dwyer said. “She had her highest score in three events, and she had her highest score in all-around. As a sophomore, she qualified for states in all her events. You’re talking about a kid her freshman year that was just working on roundoff back handsprings. I’m just really, really proud and astounded by how far she’s come so quickly.”

While the sophomore class deserves their praise, Farmington wouldn’t have been able to get the job done without their reliable group of seniors in Grace Spencer, Marnie Jacobs, Abbey Mohr and Peyton Beals.

Mohr got things kicked off for Farmington at the state finals and arguably played the biggest role towards their hot start at the finals.

“Even the girls that didn’t medal, like Abbey Mohr, she’s our No. 1,” Dwyer said. “She starts us off on beam because she’s so solid and consistent, and that’s critical. Abby was first up during the tea competition and did her job. She was the first beam routine, and I think it’s an 8.6. That sets the stage and calms everyone’s nerves.”

Spencer, who earned all-State honors at the state finals, would shine once more for Farmington, earning third in the all-around at the state finals with impressive performances in beam (eighth) and bars (second) while Jacobs added a sixth-place finish in floor to earn all-State honors as well. Spencer was the regional champion on beam this year.

Beals (35th) and Jacobs (36th) both finished in the top-40 in the all-around against a field of 83 gymnasts.

While it’s their last time representing Farmington in a meet, their impact will play a major role for Dwyer and his squad next season.

“That’s key, right?” Dwyer said. “When you have a good senior group, and even juniors. If you have a good junior and senior group that are tough-minded and kind of understands what the team’s about. We’re a serious team. We like to compete, and we like to be as good as we can. When you pass that culture on to the freshman and the sophomores, yeah. It’s like we’re not just coming here to have fun, but we’re a tough-minded team. I think that’s a ton of success as to what’s happened.”

Farmington seniors of the past have done the same, and as anyone can notice, it’s paying off in a big way.

Kamini Playle and Sara Lashbrook, both 2022 graduates, were leaders last season for the 2023 Farmington seniors, and their contributions have shown this season.

Jacobs, an impact leader for Farmington, said she hopes she made the same impression for Farmington’s young gymnasts this season.

“This year during the season, being a senior leader was amazing to me,” Jacobs said. “Going to practice has always felt like a second home to me, and I always wanted to create a positive and supportive environment for the other girls.”

Farmington will return next season with an array of young talent in the junior class and junior Izzy Dechon, a state finals gymnast this season, as a key senior leader next season.

It may not show right away, but like Farmington has perfected year in and year out, the team’s success will be in part due to the seniors of the past.

“You don’t just replace those four, right?” Dwyer said. “We have a fair amount. I’m glad those four were in the gym with the rest of them; that’s an incentive for all of them. They all seem pretty hungry.”

As for Jacobs and the rest of the seniors, it’s a proper farewell for them.

“I definitely miss the girls already,” Jacobs said.