While most people were home hiding from the freezing cold, Park’s girls gymnastics team held their last home meet of the year and senior night Jan. 22. Up against Breck, the night ultimately ended in a loss for varsity 138.25-133.3. For some on the team, this was simply a see you later, but for the seniors, this was the last time they would be competing in Central Community Center’s gym during their careers.
According to senior captain Sophie Miller, everyone performed good throughout the night. She said the meet was enjoyable and entertaining as a result of the special event.
“(The meet) went well, and it was a fun meet obviously because it was senior night. I think we all did well and just had a lot of fun,” Miller said.
Junior Isabella Lucas said each team member did great during the night and was glad to finish the meet the way they did. She said throughout everything, the match between the two schools ended well.
“It was an overall great meet. I think everybody did their absolute best, and everybody’s happy to have ended it on a good night,” Lucas said.
According to head coach Dawn Thielen, she has been the seniors’ coach for the majority of their time on the high school team, and they have each progressed in their journeys as people. She said their departure is going to be melancholy.
“It’s very sad (that the seniors are leaving),” Thielen said. “This is the first group in a long time where I have coached them for most of their high school career. I think this is the first group in a while where they’ve just really come out when they’re in the gym and shown who they are as more than just a gymnast. They’ve all grown exponentially as leaders and as young women.”
Lucas said the team’s seniors constantly help the other members when they aren’t in high spirits. She said if someone was feeling sad from the school day or practices, then they have an ear ready to hear and support them.
“(The seniors are) really great to talk to.” Lucas said. “Our seniors, you can tell they have everybody’s back. Whenever you’re feeling down, or you’re upset about something that went on during practice or even in school, they always have your back, and they’re always willing to listen.”
According to Miller, the memory that stuck out to her from her final year on the team was when the team won the Minnesota Girls Gymnastics Officials Association (MGGOA) meet. She said it was great to see each team member nail their routines on the beam.
“My favorite memory (from this year) was winning the MGGOA meet in early Jan.,” Miller said. “It was a really fun meet, all of us stuck all of our beam routines, so that was fun, (and) winning the meet was really fun.”
Thielen said this year’s seniors are impressive when faced with challenges they’ve had to overcome during a routine. She said each girl has been doing well with continuing despite the mistakes they made.
“I’ve been the most impressed with how (the seniors) handle a setback if they miss a skill or they miss a connection.” Thielen said. “They’ve all been really good at keeping their confidence and finishing the routine and kind of hiding if they made a mess up.”
Miller said she is worried about team numbers when the current seniors graduate, and she wishes for the team’s continued expansion.
“I hope (the team) can continue to get more girls out to come and join the team because we already have a small team and now we’re going to be losing four seniors,” Miller said.
Thielen said she wants the team to continue to have the same energy they do now and be certain in themselves. She said she wishes for the seniors next year to be prepared, despite the seniors’ departure, which will leave a hollowness in the gym.
“I hope that (next year’s seniors) don’t let the emptiness of the gym get to them,” Thielen said. “I hope they still come in with the same attitude and same confidence, ready to lead the team as the new seniors here, ready to have some more fun, set more goals and get ready for their college year.”
