Glenn Strandberg
Sports Editor

Never let it be said that a championship aura doesnít play mind games with the competition. Itís noticeable when the Stillwater girlsí swim team enters the pool, and itís there when the Roseville gymnasts begin their routines. On Thursday, Dec. 14, Forest Lake was looking to build upon its great performance against the Ponies, but head coach Nancy Ellias was leery as to how her squad would handle the pressure.

ìI kept telling the kids all week, after such a good meet with Stillwater that we could be very competitive with Roseville. And I still believe we can ó we just didnít come close to it tonight (Thursday),î she shared. ìI really felt that the team was mentally defeated as soon as we arrived.î

Ellias was disappointed in the 150.80 to 139.575 result, which can be traced in large part to the numerous falls Forest Lake had on both the balance beam and the floor exercise.

ìFalls killed us,î was Elliasí take on the evening.

For example, Roseville stuck 11 of 13 beam routines, while the Rangers managed only four. Multiply those missed points and you have what Ellias calls, ìsome catchy negativity.î

And then there is the fact that the meet was against the defending state champs.

ìRoseville has an excellent team, with depth, big skills and good execution. They are fun to watch,î Ellias noted.

Sidestepping the negativity, Ellias was happy with the varsity vault, where they compiled their highest score as a team.

Senior captains Nicole Paulson and Stephanie Sampair were other bright spots as Paulson took second on the vault, with a score of 9.525, and Sampair was third on the balance beam with an 8.825.

Forest Lake hosted Woodbury on Tuesday and now enjoys a break that lasts until Jan. 4, 2007 when they head to White Bear Lake.

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