MONROE - Josie Eberle has a case of spring fever.
She looks forward to the spring - and not just because of the warm weather: Eberle is gearing up to defend her state championship in the vault in Level 7 at the YMCA state gymnastics meet this weekend.
Eberle is one of 18 members on the Green County Gems gymnastics team making the trip to the state meet in Marinette Saturday. The state meet includes 17 YMCA gymnastics programs and about 750 gymnasts.
"It's a really big accomplishment," Eberle said. "I have a chance to win the vault again."
Eberle, a seventh-grader at Monroe Middle School, has been on the gymnastics team for eight years. The vault and beam are her favorite events.
"I like flying through the air," she said.
She is focused on excelling on her routines.
"I just have to go in do my best and see what happens," she said.
The Green County Gems gymnastics team qualified all 20 team members for state, but two elected not to make the trip. Each gymnast had to reach a qualifying all-around score, which varies depending on the level of the gymnast. The gymnasts will compete at state on the uneven bars, beam, floor and vault.
Dawn Lederman, Green County YMCA gymnastics program director, can't wait to see the performances this weekend.
"I think our Level 4 girls team could win a state title as a team," Lederman said.
Lederman has high expectations for all the gymnasts.
"We are probably the second smallest YMCA team in the state," she said. "Our kids have placed in every meet. I think our kids have done well all season. I'm hoping they can do what they have done all season at the state meet. I'm just hoping they compete up to their potential."
Rhianna Teubert, a Level 4 gymnast who is in fifth grade at Albrecht School in Brodhead, has big goals.
"It's just kind of a dream to win and then celebrate," Teubert said. "The state meet this year is for first place all-around and for the team."
Lindsay Egger, a seventh-grader at Monroe Middle School, also looks forward to competing in her third state meet.
Egger, who is a Level 4 gymnast, said it's a great feeling to know that Lederman believes they can win a state title.
For Monroe's Maddison Markham, this Saturday will mark her first state meet. It's also her first year on the gymnastics team.
Markham, a third-grader who is a Level 3 gymnast, said she was surprised she qualified for state in her first year.
"Even if I don't medal, I want to improve on my score and get my highest score," Markham said.
Lederman said the most difficult event for the gymnasts is the uneven bars.
"It's all upper body strength," Lederman said. "The requirements for the bars routine are harder than any other event."
She looks forward to the spring - and not just because of the warm weather: Eberle is gearing up to defend her state championship in the vault in Level 7 at the YMCA state gymnastics meet this weekend.
Eberle is one of 18 members on the Green County Gems gymnastics team making the trip to the state meet in Marinette Saturday. The state meet includes 17 YMCA gymnastics programs and about 750 gymnasts.
"It's a really big accomplishment," Eberle said. "I have a chance to win the vault again."
Eberle, a seventh-grader at Monroe Middle School, has been on the gymnastics team for eight years. The vault and beam are her favorite events.
"I like flying through the air," she said.
She is focused on excelling on her routines.
"I just have to go in do my best and see what happens," she said.
The Green County Gems gymnastics team qualified all 20 team members for state, but two elected not to make the trip. Each gymnast had to reach a qualifying all-around score, which varies depending on the level of the gymnast. The gymnasts will compete at state on the uneven bars, beam, floor and vault.
Dawn Lederman, Green County YMCA gymnastics program director, can't wait to see the performances this weekend.
"I think our Level 4 girls team could win a state title as a team," Lederman said.
Lederman has high expectations for all the gymnasts.
"We are probably the second smallest YMCA team in the state," she said. "Our kids have placed in every meet. I think our kids have done well all season. I'm hoping they can do what they have done all season at the state meet. I'm just hoping they compete up to their potential."
Rhianna Teubert, a Level 4 gymnast who is in fifth grade at Albrecht School in Brodhead, has big goals.
"It's just kind of a dream to win and then celebrate," Teubert said. "The state meet this year is for first place all-around and for the team."
Lindsay Egger, a seventh-grader at Monroe Middle School, also looks forward to competing in her third state meet.
Egger, who is a Level 4 gymnast, said it's a great feeling to know that Lederman believes they can win a state title.
For Monroe's Maddison Markham, this Saturday will mark her first state meet. It's also her first year on the gymnastics team.
Markham, a third-grader who is a Level 3 gymnast, said she was surprised she qualified for state in her first year.
"Even if I don't medal, I want to improve on my score and get my highest score," Markham said.
Lederman said the most difficult event for the gymnasts is the uneven bars.
"It's all upper body strength," Lederman said. "The requirements for the bars routine are harder than any other event."
