Lexi Milton has made her sophomore season a year of impressive growth, particularly in her favorite of the four events, the uneven parallel bars

Tom Keegan
Onwardtrojans.com

When a gymnast as skilled and joyful as Chesterton defending balance beam state champion Sammie Boster performs, everyone turns into a spectator, even the other gymnasts.
“It’s really fun watching her energy,” sophomore Lexi Milton said of Boster. “She excites everyone.”
Whether Milton is aware of it or not, Boster watches her closely too, and she has been impressed with what she has seen.
“Lexi has grown so much since last year,” Boster said. “She definitely has gotten a lot better on bars.”
Milton’s bars routine in last Thursday’s dual meet vs. Merrillville at Bailly Elementary was graded 7.450, good for sixth place. She also was sixth in the all-around standings.
“It’s my favorite,” Milton said of the bars. “And I really liked it when I was younger.”
Many young gymnasts struggle with the uneven parallel bars. Milton shared why she thinks she is not among those frustrated by the difficulty of the event.
“I think it’s because I have a lot of muscle in my arms and my abs, so that helps,” she said.
Her second-favorite event?
“I think probably beam,” she said. “It’s not my favorite to do, but I really like competing in it and I like how I feel after.”
As for which event she thinks needs the most work, Milton said, “Probably beam, too. My balance.”
Milton and her teammates will be back at Bailly Elementary on Wednesday night for a dual meet with Portage. Mia Szczepanski will be honored before the 6 p.m. meet in a senior night ceremony.
The Chesterton gymnasts are back at Bailly on Saturday as host school of the DAC meet, which starts at noon.