Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Just as Wrigley Field goers in Chicago have the "El Train," Warsaw's varsity gymnastics team this season will be powered by the "L Train."
After leading the Tigers to a 10-3 season and a sectional championship a year ago, seniors Jillian Letsch and Kim Love return to Amanda Campbell's team to try and better last year's fourth-place regional finish.
"Those are definitely our top two gymnasts," Campbell said of Letsch and Love. "They bring a lot of leadership to the team. They've been on the team for a while now. They're good gymnasts and they set a good example for the underclassmen, they set the tone for the rest of the team."
Returning with Letsch and Love are juniors Dana Wentzel and Pauline Campbell, both of whom Campell, in her seventh year with the Tigers, says will play a major role in Warsaw's success.
Warsaw's roster will be made up of 13 girls this year, a number that Campbell says is up because interest always sparks when it is an Olympic year. Campbell's team usually carries 10 gymnasts.
Also on Warsaw's roster are freshmen Andrea Calhoun, Rachael Carson, Tonya Mochocki and April Smith; sophomores Heather Meinert, Jessica Owens, Teresa Sharpe and Brittany Weaver; and junior Chantay Rosario.
Campbell said Warsaw's strongest events this year will be the floor, beam and vault.
"The bars area is what we need to work on the most," Campbell said. "If we have a real weakness, that would be it right now."
While Warsaw returns a corps of varsity competitors from last year, county rival Wawasee, last year's sectional runner-up, graduated its top three gymnasts and fields a roster of nine.
When asked who her key losses were from last year's team, Warrior coach Nikka Prather answered "my varsity team."
Graduated from last year's fifth-place regional team are Angie Beer, Katie Brown and Lisa Ummel.
"This is definately a rebuilding year," Prather said.
Wawasee returns one senior for the 2000-2001 season - Katie Millar.
"Millar returns, she always did well on the bars and beam," Prather said. "I know we can count on her. We have some freshmen that are promising, some freshmen that competed in clubs and in middle school."
Prather is talking about the freshmen trio of Jodi Buhrt, Lindsay Olson and Cari VanLue.
All competed in middle school, while Olson and VanLue competed in various clubs. Olson competed at the Summitt Gymnastics Center in Fort Wayne, a prestigous club where Prather said some of the best gymnasts in Fort Wayne compete.
Prather listed sophomore Twilight Wolfinger to be a key performer for the Warriors this year.
Also on Wawasee's roster are sophomores Brandi Miller and juniors Carrie Becker, Jessica Evilsizor, and Kari Kuhn.
Warsaw will open its season Monday at East Noble, while Wawasee will compete Jan. 2 at Elkhart Memorial.
WARSAW TIGERS
Coach/Years: Amanda Campbell/7th
1999-2000 record: 10-3/first at sectional; fourth at regional
Key Losses: none
Key Returners: Jillian Letsch, Kim Love, Dana Wentzel, Pauline Campbell
First Meet: Monday at East Noble, 6:30 p.m.
Outlook: Warsaw won the sectional title a year ago and finished fourth at the regional and will have 13 girls on the roster for this year. The Tigers return their top two gymnasts in seniors Jillian Letsch and Kim Love. Juniors Dana Wentzel and Pauline Campbell will also play a key role in Warsaw's success this season.
WAWASEE WARRIORS
Coach/Years: Nika Prather/14th
1999-2000 record: 9-5/second at sectional; fifth at regional
Key Losses: Angie Beer, Lisa Ummel, Katie Brown
Key Returners: Katie Millar, Twilight Wolfinger
First Meet: Jan. 2 vs. Elkhart Memorial
Outlook: After finishing sectional runners-up to rival Warsaw, the Warriors graduated their top three gymnasts in Angie Beer, Lisa Ummel and Katie Brown. Wawasee only has nine on its roster this year, but Warrior coach Nikka Prather says she feels good about a trio of freshmen - Lindsay Olson, Cari VanLue and Jodie Burht. Katie Millar is the only senior on this year's team. Prather, who coached a previous Wawasee team with just seven members, also expects sophomore Twilight Wolfinger to play a large part in Wawasee's success this year.
MANCHESTER SQUIRES
Coach/Years: Don Osborne/8th
1999-2000 record: 1-8/seventh at sectional
Key Losses: Megan Goshert
Key Returners: Tina French, Marie Weller
First Meet: Jan. 10 vs. Huntington North
Outlook: After posting a 1-8 record with four gymnasts a year ago, Don Osborne's Squires field a roster of eight. The only graduate from last year's team was Megan Goshert. Much of Manchester's success this year will rely on juniors Tina French and Marie Weller. Osborne also listed freshman Kim Bucher as a key performer for the 2000-2001 season.
