Balance is a word often associated with gymnastics and it might be the best word to describe the Aberdeen Central team this upcoming season.
The Golden Eagles feature multiple members with similar skill sets, according to coach Mickey Everson.
“We have a lot of girls at about the same level,” Everson said. “Sometimes you have always those few that stand out a little more or are solid on all four events versus one or two that they are strong at, but we have a lot of them that are pretty solid on all four and they’re all about equal.”
Central returns all members from a year ago with the exception of Masyn Schutter who graduated.
“Masyn is going to be a tough shoe to fill,” Everson said, “but the girls are trying hard to do that.”
The squad will be bolstered by lone senior Johanna Jarrott, who missed the entire season last year, but will be back in action this winter.
“Johanna is our only senior,” Everson said. “She was out last year with an injury and she wanted to make it for her senior year, so she is back so we’re excited for that.”
Other experienced gymnasts for the Golden Eagles include Addison Everson, Alexis Bomesberger, Regan Lust, Kalli Rowden, Kaley Naasz, and Izzy Loecker.
“We have some new faces, too,” Coach Everson said. “We brought up some girls from middle school who are ready for JV-Varsity, so I see some potential there.”
The Eagles have had some memorable moments in recent seasons and will be looking to build on that.
“We’ve had some high scores,” Coach Everson said. “In the last few years we’ve broken quite a few school records.”
The coach said there are some apparatus where her members are stronger on than others.
“We’re weakest on bars. The rest of the three I think we’re pretty good,” Coach Everson said. “Beam is always a, we got it, we have to fulfill it. We have the skills, we have the requirements, it’s just whether we can stay on, on that particular day and how they’re feeling at that meet. Bars is always a struggle for most teams. It’s the hardest event for some reason. I feel like the other two, floor and vault, we’re pretty strong on.”
Central opens its season by hosting Jamestown, N.D., in dual on Thursday.
While Coach Everson naturally wants to qualify as many members for the state meet as possible in February, she said she focuses more on short-term goals at this point in the season.
“We kind of go meet by meet, but we did set some goals early on,” she said. “Individually girls set their own goals of what they want to accomplish, and by doing that then they do best for the team. Of course, we always want to make our high score for a team score.”
The coach said that the sport has garnered some attention during the off-season. Sioux Falls attempted to eliminate their programs, however, after a legal injunction, sanctioned gymnastics will remain in that school district.
“I feel like everyone is talking about gymnastics. It’s in the news,” Everson said.
She encourages everyone come out and support the squad, and see what the sport is all about.
We’re just trying to show that we’re still strong and it’s a good sport,” Coach Everson said, “and that we produce some amazing athletes.”
