Trip to state would sure feel good to North Central’s Reid
Ali Reid is glad for the time off.
The senior from North Central is one of the Greater Spokane League’s top all-around gymnasts and is poised to qualify for the state tournament for the fourth time in her career.
The Eastern Regional 3A/2A Tournament is Feb. 10 at Southridge High School in Kennewick, meaning that Reid and the rest of the GSL gymnasts will have two weeks between last weekend’s all-league tournament at the state qualifier.
“Two weeks (off) will help a lot,” Reid said. “I’ll get a little rest but still work hard and, maybe, see about putting in a few new things. Not too much though, because I don’t want to risk anything at regionals.”
A torn ligament in her right ankle cost her two league meets and a trip to an invitational.
Still, she was the top 3A all-around placer at the league tournament, turning in a combined score of 33.750 to finish fourth. She finished tied for third in the floor exercise with a 9.45, tied for fourth in the vault at 8.50, eighth in the uneven bars at 6.95, and sixth in the balance beam at 8.85.
The pounding her body has taken in the sport means that this will likely be Reid’s final season of competition. With three weeks remaining in her season, Reid’s wrists are sore. But not as sore as her ankles.
“I’ve broken both of my ankles before,” she said. “I broke them when I was in club back in eighth grade. I was doing a double back and broke them both. I was in a wheelchair for a month.”
The worst pounding, she said, comes on the floor exercise. Most often teams compete on wrestling mats over a hardwood floor – not an ideal situation for tender joints during a tumbling run.
“Beam is also pretty tough, especially when I land on one foot,” she said. “It’s especially hard on my hurt ankle, the right ankle. My wrists hurt too, but they’re pretty good by comparison.
“I’m really happy to see a spring floor for competition. It’s so much easier.”
Still, despite the aches and pains, she isn’t kicking back and waiting for the bus to leave for Kennewick.
Three days a week she doubles up on her practice sessions, working with her NC teammates after school, then rushes off to get in extra work with Mead assistant coach Laurie Chadwick to polish routines.
This year’s state allocations make qualifying for state difficult. The 3A/2A regional will send one team, two all-around and five individual qualifiers per event. The 4A regional sends one team, one all-around and three individuals per event.