Nadia Lorencz 10th in vaulting at state
(photos by Jim Lindquist)
Last season was a memorable one for coach Lynn Bauman and her Tiger gymnasts. They set a new school point record (142.75), finished a best-ever runner-up at the Section 1AA Championships, ranked third in the Missota Conference and sent three individuals to the state meet.
Terra Klima, the school record holder on the uneven bars and Erin Hickey are gone from that team but six other letterwinners return, leaving Bauman excited about the season ahead.
"Watch out, here we come, better than ever," she said. "For real, it should be an exciting year...as long as we stay healthy."
One of the primary reasons for Bauman's rosy outlook is the return of Kiana Lord and Nadia Lorencz, both all-Missota Conference performers and state meet participants in 2001-11.
Lord finished sixth on the balance beam at state and ranked 19th in the all-around standings. Lorencz, who set a new school record in vaulting last winter, turned in a 10th place effort in that event at the state meet.
The other veterans from last year's section runners-up include Jade Alm, Tahra Eckert, Kylie Wharton and Kathryn Beckett.
Bauman rattled off a list of newcomers who for now will be working with the junior varsity team, including Kayla Bauman, Rachel Kiminski, Samantha Kramer, Anna Timerson, Jenna Klatt, ReAnn Eidahl and Racquel Beckett.
"I believe we will be good all-around," Bauman said. "We've had multiple girls work hard over the off season.
"If I had to pick an event that would be our strongest I'd have to go with the vault. The girls have some new and amazing vaults they have been working on."
Bauman said that she is looking for a move up from last year's third place finish in the conference. As for the section, the Tigers have been shifted from Section 1AA to 3AA so the competition is somewhat unknown.
"I'm guessing Park of Cottage Grove will be the favorite," she said. "They were third at the state meet last year."
Bauman returns a veteran staff of assistant coaches. Nick Tews begins his second year with the program and Beth Moore enters her third.
The Tigers vault into their 2011-12 season Saturday, Dec. 3. with an appearance at the Austin Invitational.
