Wendi Hartig is looking for the members of the Park Rapids-Nevis gymnastics team to pick up where they left off last season.
Hartig, who moves up from assistant coach to take over as the Panthers' head coach, is looking for the five returning letterwinners to start the season strong and continue to improve throughout the season.
The Panthers ended last season by tallying a season-high 124.95 points at the Mid-State Conference meet for third place and a 120.875 points at the Section 8A meet for fourth place.
With four gymnasts returning who competed in both the conference and section meets, Hartig expects the Panthers to score in the 120s consistently again this season.
"We're hoping to build on what we did last year," said Hartig, who will be assisted by Aarin Galzki, Brianne Morris and Betty Haukebo. "Our team goal is a 127."
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Leading the Panthers this year will be seniors Micah Richards and Megan Lawrence; juniors Kyja Penning and Kirsten Erickson; and freshman Emily Klingenberg. Penning and Richards received all-conference honors while Lawrence was an all-conference honorable mention gymnast.
Penning (eighth), Richards (13th) and Lawrence (15th) placed in the all-around at the section meet while Klingenberg competed on bars. All four are expected to be varsity all-around gymnasts this season.
Richards was named the Panthers' Most Valuable Gymnast last season with an all-around average of 30.62. Richards had averages of 8.38 in vault, 7.70 in floor exercise, 7.44 on uneven parallel bars and 6.93 on balance beam. Richards had high marks of 8.75 in vault, 8.50 in floor, 8.10 on bars and 8.00 on beam with a high all-around score of 32.65.
Penning returns as the Panthers' top all-around performer after leading the team with a 32.30 all-around average. Penning had averages of 8.02 in floor, 7.96 on bars, 7.54 on beam and 8.36 in vault with high marks of 8.75 in vault, 8.65 in floor, 8.55 on bars and 8.50 on beam. Penning's top all-around score was a 33.65.
Lawrence finished with the team's third-best all-around average of 28.85. Lawrence had averages of 8.38 in vault, 6.99 on beam, 6.96 in floor and 6.52 on bars with high scores of 8.75 in vault, 8.30 on beam, 7.70 in floor and 6.95 on bars.
Klingenberg recorded season highs of 7.70 in vault, 6.80 on beam, 5.20 in floor and 5.75 on bars as a varsity gymnast.
Erickson filled in on varsity last season in floor (with a high of 6.80) and beam (with a high of 4.90).
Looking to earn a varsity spot and competing on junior varsity this season will be seniors Rachel Calderon and Lillian Tovar; sophomore Samantha Bera; freshmen Taylor Ahart, Lindsey Neihart, Jessica Petrie and Isis Tovar; eighth graders Jessica Andersen, Lesa Ludwinski and Katherine Erickson; and seventh graders Melanie Allen, Cassie Baxter, Taylor Drury, Savanah Gatewood, Tiffany Hanson, Samantha Harshman, Ellen Hoffman, Kayla Johnk and Bailey Yliniemi.
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That group will be looking to improve on the Panthers' team highs of 33.925 in vault, 31.80 in floor, 30.70 on bars and 29.90 on beam. Park Rapids had averages of 32.16 in vault, 28.59 in floor, 28.52 on bars and 27.26 on beam with a team average of 116.42 last season.
"We return girls with a lot of skills and we have some talented gymnasts coming up," said Hartig. "We're looking to improve all season. The girls are working really hard. We should do all right this year."
