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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sticking With It Advised To Quit Gymnastics After A Serious Injury Last Season, Miller Worked Not To Give Up

Liz Miller approaches the anniversary of her worst pain with the confidence that it won’t happen again.

Last Dec. 15, Miller completed an uneventful floor exercise and vault during an important four-way meet at Central Valley High. Her Ferris Saxons were looking to show their best against the Greater Spokane League’s elite teams, University and the host Bears.

Miller began her parallel bars routine, aware that in warmups she had let go of the bars too early on her dismount and had landed awkwardly on her back.

Unaccountably, Miller again let go too soon on the dismount. This time, however, there was no bouncing back up.

“I landed on my back, with my (left) knee behind me,” said the Saxons senior. “I was in shock about 2-3 seconds and then I started screaming.”

Miller had torn away from the bone two ligaments and a tendon. “I kept thinking I’d be ready for (the) state (meet), but I wasn’t thinking very well,” Miller said.

Surgery came within 24 hours, and Miller was fitted for a hip-to-ankle brace that she wore for 10 weeks.

Doctors had some simple advice for the 1993 District 8-AAA all-around champion: Give up gymnastics.

They might as well have said, “Give up laughing.”

“I live for gymnastics,” Miller said. “I’ve done it since I was 3. It sticks with you. You can’t get rid of it.”

By June, Miller had undergone enough physical therapy to compete in club gymnastics. She had already practiced gymnastics-like routines in preparation for her place on the Ferris cheerleading squad.

Miller chose to return to GSL gymnastics and give up club competition because of the time demands of club.

Years of club helped Miller burst onto the GSL scene two years ago. In her first league meet, she won the all-around title over U-Hi’s Amy Kobs, who had been unbeaten the year before.

Miller also won the all-around during her next four GSL meets. She slipped slightly in the two league meets after that, but won the district title.

At region, Miller finished fifth on bars, sixth in the floor and sixth all-around. She qualified for state, but said she went to Tacoma with the wrong attitude.

“I just went to have fun,” she said. “I regret not trying harder to make it to the second (placing) day.”

Her junior season started well, with a win on the vault and beam and second in the all-around to U-Hi’s Kim Meyers. Then came the meet at CV.

“As long as I have my brace on, I don’t feel like I’m going to get hurt again,” Miller said.

With Miller and sophomore Kacey Fredrickson, Ferris is expected to challenge Meyers’ Titans for the league crown.

“Kim is one of my best friends,” Miller said. “We’ve been in gymnastics together since we were kids. We have no grudges against each other. We just want to have fun.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Photos

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: GSL gymnastics Opening meets (tonight): Central Valley, Lewis and Clark and University at Mead; North Central, Rogers and Shadle Park at Ferris Defending champion: U-Hi, which also won district and regional then finished fifth at state. CV was sixth at state. Top returners: Kim Meyers, Kalie Cossette and Coleen Pierce, U-Hi; Lindsey Linerud, CV; Kelly Herron and Heather Salo, Mead; Liz Miller and Kacey Fredrickson, Ferris; Mary Bass, Shadle; Marissa Landrie, Rogers; Emily Jones and Shelly Betts, NC Projected finish: U-Hi, Ferris, CV, Mead, Shadle, Rogers, NC, LC. New coach: Bill Christianson, Ferris Tough Titans: U-Hi has won 39 consecutive league meets and three straight league titles. “We’re not as strong this year, but we still have the top girls and will go to state,” said U-Hi coach Stacey Heaton.

This sidebar appeared with the story: GSL gymnastics Opening meets (tonight): Central Valley, Lewis and Clark and University at Mead; North Central, Rogers and Shadle Park at Ferris Defending champion: U-Hi, which also won district and regional then finished fifth at state. CV was sixth at state. Top returners: Kim Meyers, Kalie Cossette and Coleen Pierce, U-Hi; Lindsey Linerud, CV; Kelly Herron and Heather Salo, Mead; Liz Miller and Kacey Fredrickson, Ferris; Mary Bass, Shadle; Marissa Landrie, Rogers; Emily Jones and Shelly Betts, NC Projected finish: U-Hi, Ferris, CV, Mead, Shadle, Rogers, NC, LC. New coach: Bill Christianson, Ferris Tough Titans: U-Hi has won 39 consecutive league meets and three straight league titles. “We’re not as strong this year, but we still have the top girls and will go to state,” said U-Hi coach Stacey Heaton.