Huron gymnasts qualify to compete in the Class AA State Meet
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, below, or purchase a new subscription.
Please log in to continue |
HURON — The Huron gymnastics team accomplished something it hasn't done in the past three years — qualify to compete in the team competition during the Class AA State Meet. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday at 10:45 a.m., followed by start of competition at 11 a.m.
“We are looking forward to just being at the big show for the state competition,” said Julie King, who is the head coach for the Tigers. “It is the first time for this group of girls and they are thrilled, excited and ready to show them what Huron Tiger gymnasts are made of.”
Despite having a somewhat young roster, King believes her team has positioned itself to earn a spot on the podium during the season-ending event. The top six teams reach the podium, meaning the seventh-seeded Tigers would need to finish at least one spot higher than its seeding.
“My expectations for team day is that the girls get out there and do what we have been practicing all season — stay tight, hit their skills and enjoy themselves,” King said. “They have worked very hard this season and they are excited and ready for a state competition.”
Closing their high school careers at the state meet for Huron will be seniors Kaitlyn King, Emily Lord and Hailey Haber. They will be joined on the roster by juniors Brittni Nelson and Sarah Christenson, along with sophomores Erica Zell, Kassie Decker and Jaci Bankston and freshmen Leah Pyle and Jamee Kattner.
“As a whole, our team is a tight-bonded team that supports each other's efforts. They work hard everyday in the gym and I am proud of every single one of the girls,” King said. “It is a huge accomplishment to make it to the state meet and this group of girls has done just that.
“It has been three years since we have taken a team to state and they are ready to give their best performance,” she said.
Each team is allowed to compete five gymnasts in each event during the state competition, with the top four scored being tallied for the team score.
MIKE CARROL/PLAINSMAN
Erica Zell will compete in the All-Around competition at the State Gymnastics Meet to be held at Watertown this weekend.
Next is Kassie Decker, who will take her skills to compete on the balance beam.
And next, Emily Lord is set to compete in the uneven bars event at the State Meet.