Team Leader Shadle Park’s Gymnasts Have Gone From Seventh Place To Fifth Under The Guidance Of Senior Mary Bass

These days, as the Highlanders head into the gym for a gymnastics meet, their heads are held high thanks to improved standings in the Greater Spokane League.

It’s an improvement they owe a great deal to senior gymnast Mary Bass.

After occupying the seventh spot in the GSL the past several years, Shadle Park is sitting at number five and optimistic about a bright future.

Bass has taken under her wing a talented freshman class and is leading them to new heights.

“We have an extremely young team and Mary leads it,” said Shadle coach Tamara Schindler. “She is why the team is happy.

“Her experience speaks volumes.”

Bass is aware of her role as team captain.

“It’s stressful at times,” she said. “I’m always encouraging other people, keeping the team together, keeping us on task, and I have to work on my routines and nail those at the same time.”

Bass began her gymnastics career at the age of 10. It was 1984 and, after Mary Lou Retton took the Olympics by storm, Bass was hooked.

Now, a four-year letter winner, Bass has been named the team’s most valuable player three years running. It’s a sure bet she’ll add a fourth trophy to her collection at season’s end.

Her freshman year remains her most successful, with the campaign ending in a trip to the state tournament. Only a broken finger suffered playing handball during a physical education final kept her from a possible return trip her sophomore year.

Though Bass is a vital member of her team, she hardly fits the mold of an athlete that eats, sleeps and drinks her sport. Bass has other things in her life she values.

“I want to help people,” she said. “There are a lot of people in need.”

Toward that goal, Bass has been an active member in her church, the Garland Avenue Alliance, for the past six years. She is involved in a leadership group that tries to reach out to people in the church and the community. They also pay the occasional visit to nursing homes.

With her high school days near an end, so too are the days she will be a gymnast. Bass has no desire to compete in college gymnastics.

“I’ve heard (gymnastics) becomes your job,” she said, “and I don’t want gymnastics to be my job.”

A good student with a 3.4 GPA, college is Bass’ future. She has already applied to Seattle Pacific University. Hoping to continue her life’s work helping people, she plans to major in counseling or education, possibly to become a high school counselor or teacher.

Bass is also an athlete with an artistic side. Playing the piano, drawing and painting are all things you might find her doing away from the gymnastics mats. She hopes to minor in art once she reaches college.

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