U-Hi, CV Seek Gymnastics Balance Both Teams Have Lots Of Youth, Success; Gsl Should Be Close Race

State veterans continue to bolster the gymnastics teams at University and Central Valley as the schools strive to remain among the Greater Spokane League’s elite.

Seniors Coleen Pierce and Tara Hulbert are back in the Titan fold from last year’s fourth-place state finishing team.

Leading the Bears is fourth-year state veteran Lindsay Linerud.

“I think she wants to make the best of her senior year,” said coach Kim Brunelle. “She’s excited and has taken on a leadership role.”

The Titans have won five of the last six GSL titles and have been undefeated in league for the last four seasons.

“I have all the confidence in the world that it can continue,” said coach Stacey Heaton.

The Bears have been a consistent challenger over that period of time, finishing third in league last year.

Whether the two Valley schools again finish at the top of the GSL, however, will depend upon how quickly they establish depth.

Both will rely on young athletes in their attempt to stave off last year’s league runnerup Ferris.

They must also face the realization that state berths have been reduced now that a second gymnastics classification for smaller schools has been added.

Depth is only Titan concern

University’s youth and lack of proven numbers is Heaton’s concern.

“I think we’re going to have a good team,” she said. “We’re real strong in the top group, but we’re very young.”

Hulbert, who placed on floor exercise and bars at state, and Pierce provide visible leadership.

“They’ve taken over the team,” Heaton said. “They are probably two of the strongest leaders I’ve had in awhile.”

A third senior, Jen Lee has been nursing a back injury and will miss part of the season.

So freshmen Alisa Brandle and Vanessa Cordova, and sophomore Kelly Roberts will be asked to take up the slack.

Returning seniors Alyssa Woods, Allison Ruttler, and junior Kristine McCormick will also score for the team.

“I think we are comparable to where we’ve been in the past, although not as deep,” said Heaton. “They have the heart and the want-to and the talent’s there.”

That’s bad news for those who seek to challenge the Titan dynasty.

CV challenge could come later

Central Valley may not contend early in the gymnastics season. That doesn’t mean they won’t be there come post-season.

Sophomore Emily Roberts, said Brunelle, has the potential to be among the league’s top performers.

“Unfortunately, she broke her foot six weeks ago and is just out of a cast,” said Brunelle. “She won’t do anything on the foot for a while.”

Roberts said she was performing on beam for her club when she lit wrong and broke the first and second metataursal on her right foot.

“I was a level 9, possibly going on 10,” she said. “My broken foot has impeded me.”

She’ll join veterans Linerud and sophomore Lindsay Zacher all-around later in the season.

Others back from last season are senior Kristin Brannum, sophomores Corinne Gannon and Amy Nickerson, and juniors Leslie Merideth, Kristin Weathers, Shannon Irving and Darah Poffenroth.

Newcomers include freshmen Melissa Alderman, Annie Hussey, Jenny Hodgson, Lacey Varney and Reanna Blatherwick.

“The freshmen appear to have talent,” said Brunelle. “I don’t know them well enough yet and it will be hit and miss the first two weeks.”

There should be more hits than misses as they progress.

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