Things just keep getting better and better for coach Lynn Bauman and her Tiger gymnastics program.
Not only did the the 2010-11 season produce yet another new school record in team scoring (142.75) but it also saw individual school marks set on the uneven bars and vault; a best-ever second place finish at the Section 1AA Championships; a third place showing in the Missota Conference and finally, a school-best three individuals qualify for the state meet.
"We as a team saw both the varsity and junior varsity continue to get stronger and better," Bauman said. "There was so much determination and motivation from all of the girls. Between new friendships and new records we couldn't have had a better year."
Eight Tigers earned varsity letters this season, including seniors Terra Klima and Erin Hickey; junior Jade Alm; sophomores Kiana Lord and Nadia Lorencz; freshmen Kathryn Beckett and Tahra Eckert and eighth-grader Kylie Wharton.
The three state meet qualifiers--Lord (beam, all-around)-Lorencz (vault) and Klima (bars)--each made the all-Missota squad while Hickey, injured much of the season, received all-league honorable mention. Lord took home the Most Valuable Player Award and seventh grader Elizabeth Welter received Most Improved performer honors.
Klima broke her own school record on the bars twice this season, the last with a lofty 9.65 mark. Lorencz also cracked the school vault mark twice, including a 9.6 at the state championships.
At state, Lord finished sixth on the beam and 19th in all-around. Lorencz ranked 10th in vault and Klima placed 26th on the bars.
Bauman looked long and hard to find any bad news in the season just completed and managed to find just one.
"The injuries," she lamented. "We had very few meets with all of our varsity girls (healthy). Other than that it was an exciting year."
Buaman will lose only Klima and Hickey from this year's team, meaning that the 2011-12 campaign could be another good one.
"The girls are looking forward to working on harder and better skills," she said. "and we are planning on having more girls out next year. We'll also be hosting the Section 1AA meet for the first time."
Bauman went on to say that some of the younger girls will have to take a major step up next winter to fill the shoes of departing seniors Klima and Hickey.
"They will truly be missed," she said. "They were such assets to the team with all of their loyalty and leadership."
