MONROE - For the second straight year, every gymnast on the Green County Gems gymnastics team qualified for the state meet. This year's competition will be held March 15-17 in Sturgeon Bay.
There are 29 of the Gems' 35 members making the trip to state, and there will be about 1,000 gymnasts in all at Surgeon Bay for the state meet. Each gymnast had to achieve various scores based on their level. Each gymnast will compete at state on the uneven bars, floor, vault and balance beam.
"I'm always happy when everyone qualifies," said Dawn Lederman, Green County YMCA gymnastics program director. "It feels like we are doing our job. This is the culmination of their season. This is what they have been working hard for all year."
Last year, the Level 4 Gems took second place at state as a team and were just 0.10 points shy of the state championship. Makayla Phillips, was a state champion as a Level 4 gymnast on the bars and was the state runner-up on the beam and in the all-around competition last year. This year, Phillips is one of three gymnasts who will compete in the Xcel division for gymnasts between levels. Baylie Engels was a state champion on the beam last year. She will look to repeat her title in the Xcel division this year. Engels was also the state runner-up on the bars last year.
Kaylea Paulson, 9, was a state champion in Level 3 last year on the beam. Paulson will be gunning for another title this year in Level 4. Other gymnasts who earned top three medals last year that are back at state include Casey Rielly, 13, Level 6; Josie Eberle, 14, Level 7 and Tre Voegeli, 16, Level 7.
Lederman has high expectations for the state meet.
"The Level 2 and Level 3 teams could be the top teams in the state," Lederman said of the Green County team. "I think it will come down to the girls who have the patience to compete in a totally different environment then they are used to. It will be who can remember and stick their routines."
There is a small margin for error at a high level of competition.
"Every bent leg and bent foot is a deduction," Lederman said. "That can make the difference in getting on the podium or not."
There are 29 of the Gems' 35 members making the trip to state, and there will be about 1,000 gymnasts in all at Surgeon Bay for the state meet. Each gymnast had to achieve various scores based on their level. Each gymnast will compete at state on the uneven bars, floor, vault and balance beam.
"I'm always happy when everyone qualifies," said Dawn Lederman, Green County YMCA gymnastics program director. "It feels like we are doing our job. This is the culmination of their season. This is what they have been working hard for all year."
Last year, the Level 4 Gems took second place at state as a team and were just 0.10 points shy of the state championship. Makayla Phillips, was a state champion as a Level 4 gymnast on the bars and was the state runner-up on the beam and in the all-around competition last year. This year, Phillips is one of three gymnasts who will compete in the Xcel division for gymnasts between levels. Baylie Engels was a state champion on the beam last year. She will look to repeat her title in the Xcel division this year. Engels was also the state runner-up on the bars last year.
Kaylea Paulson, 9, was a state champion in Level 3 last year on the beam. Paulson will be gunning for another title this year in Level 4. Other gymnasts who earned top three medals last year that are back at state include Casey Rielly, 13, Level 6; Josie Eberle, 14, Level 7 and Tre Voegeli, 16, Level 7.
Lederman has high expectations for the state meet.
"The Level 2 and Level 3 teams could be the top teams in the state," Lederman said of the Green County team. "I think it will come down to the girls who have the patience to compete in a totally different environment then they are used to. It will be who can remember and stick their routines."
There is a small margin for error at a high level of competition.
"Every bent leg and bent foot is a deduction," Lederman said. "That can make the difference in getting on the podium or not."
