Joe Drennan
Sports EditorLosing seven gymnasts from last yearís team doesnít worry Forest Lake gymnastics head coach Nancy Ellias, not when she has her top athletes from last season returning.
ìI have high hopes for this group,î Ellias said of this yearís team.
Last yearís only Rangers gymnast to appear at the state meet, senior Rachel Turry, is back. Turry has been to state twice, competing on the bars.
ìRachel has some experience at state, and I fully expect her to get back to there,î Ellias said.
The return of senior Chrissy Pierce to the team this year will certainly help the team. Pierce left to compete at the club level when she was a freshman, but has decided to return to the team for her senior year.
Other notable returning gymnasts are all-around competitors Brianna Hubbard, Jamie Essen, and Karine Becker. Kelsey Callahan and Tasha Tyler are sophomores who lettered as freshman and are also returning.
Two freshman additions have left their club team to compete for the high school. Ellias is hoping that Ashley Morris and Stephanie Sampair will be able to add depth to the team. Senior Nicky McDaniel has also left her club team to compete for the high school.
ìThis group is going to be the core,î Ellias said.
The Rangers will be led by captains Rachel Turry, Katie Thomas, and Kelly Waldoch.
ìI feel like I have really good leadership,î Ellias said. ìI am looking forward to this year. We have more talent than last year, and the returners from last year have more experience.î
OPPONENTS
Performing well is only part of the challenge the gymnastics team will encounter. The other, their opponents.
Competing in the Suburban East Conference, the Rangers will have to go up against perennial SEC leaders Park (Cottage Grove) who won the conference last year, Roseville, Woodbury, White Bear Lake, and Roseville who all have strong teams every year.
ìWe have a strong conference,î Elliase said. ìOur section was fairly even last year with no one dominant team. There is a lot of strength in the section too.î
The section isnít any easier as SEC rivals Mounds View, White Bear Lake, Roseville, and Stillwater are in the same section. Throw Centennial, North St. Paul, Tartan, Irondale, and Spring Lake Park into the mix, and things wonít get any easier for the Rangers.
ìTwo years ago we were second place in the section. A lot of those kids from that team have graduated, but I still have some of those gymnasts around this year as seniors,î Ellias said. ìThat experience, with our depth, should help us this season.î
The Rangers next meet is Friday against Lakeville at 6:30 p.m. at home.
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