Gymnastics: Keeping up the momentum

Kylie Wharton 7th in state beam (photo by J. Lindquist)

Last winter the Tiger closed with a flourish, achieving their highest score (140.55) of the season and qualifying two individuals for the state meet at the Section 3AA Championships.

Veteran coach Lynn Bauman is hoping this year's squad can carry that momentum into the 2013-14 season.

"I'm hoping to pick up right where we left off last season and improving form there," she said. "We are shooting for third in the conference and we're moving back to Section 1AA for the post-season."

Bauman returns 13 contributors from last years team, including seniors Kathryn Beckett and Tahra Eckert; juniors Ashley Ellefson and Kyle Wharton; sophomores Racquel Beckett, Elizabeth Welter, Gina Mercurio and Kenzie McCuddin; freshmen Rachel Kiminski, Kyla Bauman, Sam Kramer and Amanda Davenport and eighth-graders Amanda Ruth and Samantha Maynard.

Wharton shook off an injury-plagued season to finish seventh on the balance beam at the state meet last year. Five returnees also earned all-section honors last winter: Eckert, vault; Davenport, uneven bars; Wharton, balance beam; Kiminski, balance beam and Beckett, floor exercise.

Sophomore Sidney Comes, eighth-grader Abby Schwartz and seventh-grader Katie Bellefeille also figure to compete for spots in the varsity and junior varsity lineups this winter.

Bauman says this year's team doesn't have the numbers it has had in years past but thinks that may actually work to her advantage.

"I believe having a smaller team will make us stronger," she said. "As for individual events, beam is looking amazing...and we've only been practicing for five days."

Senior Tahra Eckert (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Bauman said she believes this year's team has a legitimate shot at breaking the all-time school scoring mark of 141.275 if it can remain healthy and injury-free, two areas that seriously impacted the 2012-13 season.

"I'd also like to get a couple girls back to the state meet," she said.

State power Northfield figures to be the team to beat in both the conference and section races with New Prague also figuring to field a solid entry in the Missota.

Brad Albano returns for his second year as varsity assistant coach. Bridgit Abuzzahab, a former gymnast from Spirit Gymnastics/Hamline joins the staff as the other assistant.

The Tigers open their 2013-14 season Saturday, Nov. 30, when they travel to Austin for Winter-Warm-Up Invitational at the Austin YMCA.