GYMNASTS TO HOST OPENER

    The Britton-Hecla gymnastics team knows it has some big shoes to fill this season, but a young and talented crew will begin that process when Sisseton comes to town for a varsity and junior varsity meet starting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
    Gone from last year’s squad that placed fourth in the state meet are three key seniors – Sterling Mertens, Kaegan Fredrickson, and Emma Kraft.  Mertens also placed in three individual events.
     “We have lots of talent on this year’s team and I still expect us to be strong, but we will definitely lack in depth a little bit this year and have some really big shoes to fill both in leadership and the ability to score points,” noted B-H coach Angela Grupe, who welcomed 10 high school gymnasts and another 10 in grades 6-8 for preseason practices.  “But we have some very good gymnasts and some younger kids that are learning every day that can hopefully fill some of those roles.  We will be more susceptible as a team to injuries because we aren’t as deep as we were last year when we could absorb a little bit more and won’t have those backup scores right away.”
    That injury bug has already bitten.  Returning freshman letterwinner Kennady Van Lith has a foot injury that could sideline her for a time.    Other returning letterwinners include the team’s lone senior McKenna Heer; juniors Abby Lee and Ava Teveldal, along with Taryn Kraft who sat out last season with an injury; sophomore Brynlee Schmieg; and freshman Jaelee Grupe.
    Grupe feels her squad should be pretty solid across the board.
    “I think we’re going to be pretty equal all the way around.  We did graduate some pretty good bar routines and that is always the hardest event to built and takes a little bit of time, but I think floor and beam will be a pretty solid base for us.”
    The Lady Braves scored a season-high 134.794 points in the state meet last year and Grupe thinks her squad will likely be in the mid-120’s to open the season.  But she also predicts that her charges can be in the 130’s by season’s end.
    “It really all depends on how quickly we can get consistent,” said Grupe, who is assisted by last year’s standout Sterling Mertens and volunteer coaches Kelsi Heer and Jennifer Carlson.  “I think we can push into the 130’s again but it will depend our ability to hit our routines consistently.”
    Grupe said the Lady Braves opener on Tuesday will help the team gauge where things stand.
    “In that first outing we just want to see where we stand and kind of get back to square one,” concluded Grupe.  “At this point we’re still working on the requirements phase of routines before we work into any of the bonus sections.  If Kennady isn’t available that will also create some holes that we will have to work with.  We will continue to grow all season, but we are definitely starting a little farther back.”