Emporia High gymnastics coach Barbara Clark would like some more would-be flippers and flyers to join this year’s team.
Clark had 10 girls show up at the first practice of the year on Monday. She’s in the process of replacing four departed seniors and would like to field a team of between 10 and 12.
“Usually, when the Olympics come out ... I usually get a lot of kids coming out that want to be on the gymnastics team,” Clark said. “But not as much this year. Maybe it’s just (the) first day, and there might be some more wanting to come in. I mean, they’re welcome to come, if they read this and want to come out.”
A couple of the team’s key returners are coming back from injuries. Clark expects good things from sophomore Kaitlyn Miller as an all-around performer. Miller is coming back off hip surgery last year, which prevented her from finishing the season. Other key all-around gymnasts include junior Hayley Risley and sophomore Kristina McAuley.
Other team members will fill in the other event slots as needed. Junior Madison Reiber had ankle surgery last year; Clark expects her to be a quality performer on the vault.
“(With) one senior and six (gymnasts) returning, they’re going to have to learn other events a little bit,” Clark said.
Kayla Baker is the team’s only returning senior. Carissa Schmitz, also a senior, will be a newcomer to the gymnastics team. Other team members, as of Monday, include juniors Brenda del Alda, Erica Krueger and Kylie Mains, and sophomore Calle Arndt.
Clark’s early prediction is that the Spartans will be strongest in floor exercises and on the beam. They’re “rebuilding” on the uneven parallel bars, where they lose Tarra Nichols, a State competitor in that event last year, and on the vault, where Nichols was also strong. Also gone off last year’s team are Jamie Hollern, Hayley Fry and Jennie Loucks.
“Last year ... I had some girls having to fight, or work hard, just to get in a meet,” Clark said. “Now, there’s gonna be an opportunity for them to be in the meet if they have their routines done.
“It’ll be easier to pick from, and a lot of girls will have opportunity to be in the meet. But, (we’re) still welcome to have more girls out.”
EMPORIA HIGH GYMNASTICS SCHEDULE
Sept. 11 Newton Tri
Sept. 15 at Hutchinson
Sept. 22 EMPORIA INVITE
Sept. 27 at Lawrence Free State
Sept. 30 at Olathe North
Oct. 6 at Lawrence
Oct. 11 at Newton
Oct. 14 at Olathe North
Oct. 21 EMPORIA TRI
Oct. 30 Regionals at Olathe North
Nov. 8 State at Olathe East