Just Expecting Happiness U-Hi’s Win Streak A Secondary Concern To Team Leader Hulbert

(From Replay, December 5, 1997:) The photograph appearing with a Thursday prep page feature about University High School gymnast Tara Hulbert was not of Hulbert. The person in the picture was teammate Coleen Pierce. For the record, this is Tara Hulbert. (Photo appeared with correction)

This winning thing must end, Tara Hulbert said.

Not winning itself, which any veteran University gymnast, such as Hulbert, has seen in large quantities.

What Hulbert would like to change is any expectation that U-Hi must win every meet or risk being labeled a failure.

Hulbert joined the school’s team three years ago, in large part because of the Fun Factor. The pressures of club gymnastics left Hulbert feeling drained.

Greater Spokane League competitions are less stressful, but three-plus years of perfect league records have placed U-Hi in a unique situation.

The Titans’ streak has ballooned to 27 consecutive wins in GSL meets, so any ‘news’ regarding U-Hi won’t be that the number has grown to 28, 29 or 34.

Instead, everyone’s waiting for the ax to fall.

In a way that’s fine, said Hulbert, the defending district all-around champion.

“If we get a second place, I want us to be happy,” the senior said. “I want the team to take that attitude.”

The point is to enjoy the sport and being part of a team, Hulbert said, not fearing a loss.

U-Hi won league, district and regional titles last year, then placed fourth at the state meet in Tacoma.

Lindsey Brandle, who won the all-around for U-Hi at the regional meet, chose to return to club gymnastics this year. Hulbert said her good friend is making a mistake.

“I tell her every day she’ll regret it,” Hulbert said. “We’re all her best friends (on the team).”

The Titans, seeking their six consecutive GSL title, still have a Brandle on their team. Alisa Brandle will join fellow freshman Vanessa Cordova as leaders of the Titans’ next wave.

Seniors Coleen Pierce and Allison Ruttler, and sophomore Kelly Roberts add to the depth. Hulbert, the defending regional champion on the uneven bars and vault, has accepted additional challenges.

“She’s taken over the conditioning program from the coaches,” said U-Hi coach Stacey Heaton.

“She’s taken this team under her wing, which has been a positive experience.”

Another Hulbert, former Titans gymnast Amber, provides extra leadership. Amber Hulbert and Kim Meyers, the 1996 regional all-around champion for U-Hi, are Heaton’s assistant coaches.

The arrangement could never lead to sisterly disagreements because Amber isn’t in charge of coaching Tara and the older gymnasts.

Tara said watching Amber’s teams helped lead her to high school competition. Tara distinguished herself immediately, most notably in her specialty, the bars. Hulbert finished second to Meyers in the event during the regional meet two years ago.

Hulbert’s bars routine was set back early last year because of a wrist injury incurred while weight lifting. She has added a new twist to the bars this year, what she calls a ‘full pirouette,’ in an attempt to improve upon her sixth-place showing at state.

Despite a regional title on the vault, and a state placing in the floor exercise, Hulbert refers to her efforts in terms such as ‘clean’ and ‘consistent.’ She doesn’t perform extravagant floor routines, in the manner of defending regional champ, Ferris’ Kacey Frederickson.

Ferris appears to be U-Hi’s main challenger this year, although Saxons coach Bill Christianson figures the Titans as 10 points better at this point.

Ferris nearly tripped up U-Hi last year in a pre-Christmas meet. Central Valley also gave the Titans a run.

“I have a lot of confidence in our team, but we’re only halfway where we need to be because of circumstances,” Hulbert said of U-Hi’s early season injuries.

Hulbert and Pierce work at Senior Froggy’s, where Heaton’s husband, Ryan, is the manager.

Hulbert, whose grade-point average is close to 3.9, is considering a career in architectural engineering.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: GREATER SPOKANE LEAGUE GYMNASTICS Defending league, district and regional champion: University (fourth at state). The Titans have won 27 consecutive GSL meets. Openers: Thursday - Shadle Park, Central Valley and Lewis and Clark at North Central. Tuesday - Ferris, U-Hi and Rogers at Mead/Mount Spokane. Postseason: District Feb. 6 at NC. Regional Feb. 14 at a Big Nine Conference site. Changes: Mount Spokane and Mead are a co-op team, with separate scoring at meets. … The state meet in Tacoma has been split into 4A and 3A/2A meets. … Scores will be lower because of across-the-board changes. Coaching news: Jack Baker, Mead/Mt. Spokane, replaces Laurie Ticknor. Barb Richards, LC, is training Michele Peterson as her replacement. Top returners: Lindsay Linerud and Lindsay Zacher, CV; Ivy Plewman, Filicity Frederick, Kimberly George and Kacey Frederickson, Ferris; Anne Sackville-West, LC; Marki Stewart and Kelsie Slack, Mead; Heidi McCullough, NC; Brandy Shea, Rogers; Mary Bass, Shadle; Tara Hulbert, Coleen Pierce, Kelly Roberts and Allison Ruttler, U-Hi. Biggest loss: Lindsey Brandle, U-Hi, defending regional all-around champ, has returned to club gymnastics. Newcomers to watch: Patsy McVey, Ferris; Amber Baines, NC; Vanessa Cordova and Alisa Brandle, U-Hi. Projected finish: U-Hi, Ferris, CV, NC, Mead, Shadle, Rogers, LC, Mt. Spokane.