Balanced Attack North Side Schools Looking For Success In Gsl Gymnastics Season

North Central gymnastics coach Bob Litton says he can’t say for sure how this winter’s Greater Spokane League will turn out.

Yes, GSL power University will battle for the league title with Central Valley and Ferris. And yes, NC will be close behind.

But Litton believes the Indians will be challenged for the fourth spot by Mt. Spokane or Shadle Park.

First-year Mead and Mt. Spokane coach Amanda Workman is optimistic that her squads are better this year after finishing sixth and eighth in the GSL last season, respectively.

The two teams practice together under the same four coaches but compete against each other in meets.

“The logistics of accommodating 40 gymnasts in one facility was a serious obstacle at first,” Workman said. “Not a weakness, but an interesting twist in the respect that these two teams that practice together every day and are developing friendships, will compete against each other in a tight competitive season.”

Rogers returns some experienced gymnasts and Lakeside begins its second season with an independent schedule.

Mead and Mt. Spokane improved

Mt. Spokane had just six gymnasts last season so this will be the Wildcats first year with a full team.

“They have yet to develop a strong sense of pride and identity,” Workman said.

Key returners for the Wildcats are junior Kristen Halverson, and sophomores Jaque Meng and RayAnn Jordan. Newcomers expected to contribute are sophomore Phuong To, and freshmen Melissa Binder and Amy Keppler.

Of the 18 Mt. Spokane gymnasts, 15 are underclassmen. They may be young but Workman says they’re talented and have some good years ahead of them.

For Mead, returners are seniors Marki Stewart and Sunny Smith and junior Ciara Mylnar.

Newcomers include junior Brianna Miller, sophomore Bridgette Cullen and freshmen Lauren Phillips and Miranda Reser.

Workman said she’s pleased with leadership shown by the experienced upperclassmen in the bunch.

“We’ve got some really strong talent on both teams,” Workman said. “It will be interesting. They’re pretty close in competition level this year. It might be neck and neck.”

Mead and Mt. Spokane open the season against Ferris, Central Valley and Shadle Park on Wednesday at Ferris.

North Central has no seniors

The Indians are young but talented. Six of eight of NC’s 1998 regional qualifiers are back and both state qualifiers return.

Depth is a concern for Litton, who begins his 11th season directing the NC program. He has had athletes qualify for state every year this decade except for 1991.

“We need our top-three all-arounds to improve and then fill in with other returnees and newcomers to be contenders,” Litton said.

Sophomore Amber Baines was fifth at state last spring on the balance beam and also qualified in the uneven bars and vault. Junior Heidi McCullough finished 13th at state on the bars.

Returning regional qualifiers are juniors Janna Kruger and Kari Lebret, and sophomores Nicole Brown and Cassie Clemons.

Litton has four freshmen he expects to contribute. They are Casey Barratt, who attends Gonzaga Prep, Stephanie Jackson, Taniya McGowan and Christina Mills.

NC plays host to Lewis and Clark, Rogers and University on Dec. 3 for its opener.

Rogers has experience

Pirates coach Kathy Harrison has five experienced returners and some talented freshmen to work with this winter.

Senior Sandra Kanan leads the Rogers squad as the Pirates fourth-year varsity member. She has qualified for three regional meets.

Other returners include juniors Chasity Doering and Diana Ulijohn, and sophomore Krista Lopez.

Crystal Bettencourt is a senior who didn’t compete last year.

Expected freshmen contributors are Renee Ensign, Gina Swan and Heather Simpson.

“We have a large more-experienced team than we’ve had in recent years,” Harrison said. “The depth should help us succeed in the league and I expect a record number of regional qualifiers this year.”

Rogers’ first meet is Dec. 3 at North Central against the Indians, Lewis and Clark and University.

Shadle is young

The Highlanders have no seniors and will be led by four sophomore varsity returners. They are Kendra Caprye, Jennie Gavin, Shelby Stang and Amy Wilson. Leah Borg is a freshman on varsity.

Coach Tamara Schindler begins her fourth season leading Shadle and said she expects tough competition in the GSL.

The Highlanders open Wednesday against Ferris, Mead/Mt. Spokane and Central Valley at Ferris.

Lakeside returns strength

The Eagles begin their second season with a gymnastics program and will compete in six meets. Lakeside will go against GSL schools and participate in 3A/2A meets and weekend invitationals.

The Eagles didn’t lose anyone from last year’s team and have three seniors. The team has not chosen captains but seniors Saundra Bayer and Renee Schione filled the duty last season. Another returning senior is Becky Folsom.

Candice Staat is the lone junior on the team. She is joined by sophomore returners Tia Gilroy, Lisa Anderson, Carolyn Johnson and Darcy Drury.

Four freshmen made the varsity roster, led by experienced gymnast Katie Dinsmoore. The other three are Amanda Johnson, Kelly Norris and Lauren Freeland.

“We’ve got some really hot freshmen coming in and we didn’t lose anyone,” coach Linda Gilroy said. “This team has a lot of depth.”

Lakeside, which was fifth in regionals last spring, opens the season by hosting Ferris and Lewis and Clark on Dec. 5. The Eagles still hope to get in the GSL, Gilroy said. They posted wins over Rogers, LC, Mead and Mt. Spokane last season.