MONROE - Monticello's Molly Olson, 10, a Level 3 gymnast for the Green County Gems gymnastics team is looking to win her third straight all-around competition state championship at the YMCA State Gymnastics meet Saturday.
"I think it will be really hard," said Olson, who won an all-around state title in Level 2 last year and a championship at Level 1 two years ago. "I think it will take a lot of work."
Olson is one of 72 gymnasts on the Green County Gems gymnastics team that qualified for state, but 69 will compete Saturday and Sunday at Lincoln High School in Manitowoc.
The near six dozen gymnasts will compete on the uneven bars, balance beam, vault and floor exercise with more than 1,000 gymnasts from 17 YMCA gymnastic programs in seven levels based on gymnastics skills from the lowest level at Level 1 to the highest at Level 7.
Olson has a goal in mind for this weekend.
"At least get a medal," she said.
Olson said her favorite event in gymnastics is the vault.
"It's just really easy if you mess up," Olson said citing that gymnasts get two vault attempts in competition.
The Gems gymnastics team has seen a rise in participation on the team. There are eight more children on the team this year compared to last year when they had 64.
"The success of the U.S. gymnastics team from the Rio Olympics two years ago, I think programs all over the country have continued to grow," said Dawn Lederman, the Green County YMCA Gems coach and gymnastics coordinator. "I think we continue to grow."
Lederman said there are 15 more new gymnasts who will start gymnastics team training in the spring.
Lederman said each year since 2016, the Green County Gems numbers on the team have risen.
"There are people continuing to inquire who want to see their kids on the team," she said.
Kiera Indergand, 10, Monroe, a Level 2 gymnast has her sights set on nailing her routine.
"To point my toes and keep my legs straight," she said is her goal and main focus Saturday.
Lederman said both the Gems Level 1 and 2 teams have a chance to repeat as state champions this year. Both the Level 1 and 2 Gems gymnastics teams won state titles last year and the Level 3 team finished as the state runner-up.
"They should probably be in the top three," she said.
Lederman said the Level 6 Gems gymnastics team also has a good chance of finishing in the top three at state.
Indergand is in her second year on the Gems. She enjoys the friendships she has made on the team.
"I like hanging out with my friends because some of them go to different schools and this is the only time I get to see them," she said.
Indergand said her favorite event in gymnastics is the uneven bars because she wins a lot of medals on it. She's focused on adding more hardware this weekend.
"I probably have a good chance to medal," she said. "My goal is to do my routine the best I can."
Lexie Larson, 6, is in her first year on the Gems. She also loves the uneven bars - they are her favorite event. What makes the bars so exciting?
"Just because you get to fly out," Larson said.
Larson said one fun aspect of being on the gymnastics team is the birthday treats she gets to share when someone celebrates a birthday at practice.
"I think it will be really hard," said Olson, who won an all-around state title in Level 2 last year and a championship at Level 1 two years ago. "I think it will take a lot of work."
Olson is one of 72 gymnasts on the Green County Gems gymnastics team that qualified for state, but 69 will compete Saturday and Sunday at Lincoln High School in Manitowoc.
The near six dozen gymnasts will compete on the uneven bars, balance beam, vault and floor exercise with more than 1,000 gymnasts from 17 YMCA gymnastic programs in seven levels based on gymnastics skills from the lowest level at Level 1 to the highest at Level 7.
Olson has a goal in mind for this weekend.
"At least get a medal," she said.
Olson said her favorite event in gymnastics is the vault.
"It's just really easy if you mess up," Olson said citing that gymnasts get two vault attempts in competition.
The Gems gymnastics team has seen a rise in participation on the team. There are eight more children on the team this year compared to last year when they had 64.
"The success of the U.S. gymnastics team from the Rio Olympics two years ago, I think programs all over the country have continued to grow," said Dawn Lederman, the Green County YMCA Gems coach and gymnastics coordinator. "I think we continue to grow."
Lederman said there are 15 more new gymnasts who will start gymnastics team training in the spring.
Lederman said each year since 2016, the Green County Gems numbers on the team have risen.
"There are people continuing to inquire who want to see their kids on the team," she said.
Kiera Indergand, 10, Monroe, a Level 2 gymnast has her sights set on nailing her routine.
"To point my toes and keep my legs straight," she said is her goal and main focus Saturday.
Lederman said both the Gems Level 1 and 2 teams have a chance to repeat as state champions this year. Both the Level 1 and 2 Gems gymnastics teams won state titles last year and the Level 3 team finished as the state runner-up.
"They should probably be in the top three," she said.
Lederman said the Level 6 Gems gymnastics team also has a good chance of finishing in the top three at state.
Indergand is in her second year on the Gems. She enjoys the friendships she has made on the team.
"I like hanging out with my friends because some of them go to different schools and this is the only time I get to see them," she said.
Indergand said her favorite event in gymnastics is the uneven bars because she wins a lot of medals on it. She's focused on adding more hardware this weekend.
"I probably have a good chance to medal," she said. "My goal is to do my routine the best I can."
Lexie Larson, 6, is in her first year on the Gems. She also loves the uneven bars - they are her favorite event. What makes the bars so exciting?
"Just because you get to fly out," Larson said.
Larson said one fun aspect of being on the gymnastics team is the birthday treats she gets to share when someone celebrates a birthday at practice.
