Defending Class A gymnastics champion Estelline-Hendricks looking to repeat this winter
After back-to-back fourth-place finishes in the state Class AA gymnastics meet, Watertown High School's gymnastics teams wouldn't mind taking a step or two up the ladder.
It makes sense. Since 2004, the Arrow gymnasts have captured seven titles and seven runner-up finishes while placing out of the top two only six times.
"I'd like to say we're good in the top four and I think there's potential to be even higher. It's just getting the potential to come through," Watertown head coach Vicky Fisher said. "I'd like to dream big and say we could get second. That's a goal for the girls. It's going to take a lot of work, but it's doable."
The 2023-24 Arrows are set to debut on Saturday in the Pierre Invitational.
Watertown and Aberdeen Central are the two Class AA schools with gymnastics programs in northeastern South Dakota. Britton-Hecla, Deuel, defending state champion Estelline-Hendricks, Milbank Area and Sisseton are the area Class A schools that compete in the sport.
A little bit of a change in Class AA
Watertown typically opens its season with an invite at Sioux Falls, but Sioux Falls schools just learned a month ago that they would still have a chance to compete this winter. The Sioux Falls School District had voted to drop the sport, but a lawsuit was file and a judge rule that it will remain for the 2003-24 year.
Because of the late change, the AA schedule has been altered and the Sioux Falls schools have had to piece together their schedule.
As part of the change, Watertown will not host its annual invitational this winter. The Arrows will host Aberdeen Central and Huron in a triangular on Thursday, Jan. 25 and turn around two days later to host the Eastern South Dakota Conference meet (a state-qualifying meet) on Saturday, Jan. 27. The combined State AA-A meet is slated for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 9-10 at Pierre.
What to know about the 2023-24 Arrows
Fisher will be assisted this winter by Larissa Swanson and Melissa Van Gilder with a squad that returns seniors Kinsley Van Gilder and Kaitlynn Rudebusch, junior Marli Wadsworth, sophomore Ella Palmquist and freshmen Ashlynn Andrews, Shauna Evenson and Briana McElhany.
Andrews tied for third and McElhany tied for eighth in the balance beam and Evenson tied for fifth in the floor exercise during the Class AA individual and all-around championships on the second day of the state meet last February.
"One of the things I'm super excited about is that we have some great senior leadership," Fisher said. "Honestly, our upperclassmen are looking the best right now. They're pulling their weight and showing the newbies what to do."
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A couple of seventh-graders from the Dakota Gold Gymnastics club (Emery Gaikowski and Macy Olsen) head a list of newcomers that could play key roles this winter.
The squad includes freshman Addison Kunkel, Lyric Diedrich and Karleigh Rumpza; eighth-graders Arianna Snyder, Emmah Scott and Skyler Hall; and seventh-graders Zoey White, Kennedy McElhany and Brooklyn Varilek.
"I have high hopes for Emery and Macy for them, but that jump from club to high school is different and hard," Fisher said. "When you first start, you don't realize that. We'll navigate the rules and get through what we need to with that."
What about Aberdeen Central?
Head coach Michelle Everson and assistants Morgan Scholl and Hailee Like are working with a 15-member squad led by captains Johanna Jarrott, a senior, and Addison Everson, a junior.
The Golden Eagles were scheduled to host Jamestown in a dual on Thursday and will also head to Pierre on Saturday.
The squad's roster includes junior Melia Daugherty, Amara Klipfel,. Kalli Rowden, Izzy Loecker, Morgan Naasz and Kaley Naasz; sophomore Brecken Santjer; freshman Regan Lust, Alexis Bomesberger, Ashlyn Odde and Jazmyn Sturdevant; and seventh-graders Hattie Gederos and Madelyn Walberg.
The Golden Eagles have two home remaining events, the Hub City Invite on Saturday, Dec. 9 and a triangular with Sisseton and Britton-Hecla on Tuesday, Dec. 19.
Who are the teams to beat in Class AA?
Mitchell returned to the top last February by edging defending champion Sioux Falls O'Gorman. The Kernels return a number of state place winners and are the likely team to beat.
O'Gorman lost all-around standouts Maeve Boetel and Audrey Meyer to graduation and Fisher admits she's not exactly sure what to expect from the Knights. As a private school, O'Gorman's gymnastics program is under the control of the Sioux Falls School District.
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Harrisburg, which finished third in the state, also returns some strong gymnastics and should be formidable once again.
What about the area Class A teams?
There are 14 Class A gymnastics teams in the state, seven in two regions. All of the area teams are in Region 1A, which features perennial powers Madison and Deuel. The Bulldogs (21) and Cardinals (7) had combined for every state championship since 1994 before Estelline-Hendricks stopped the streak last winter.
Head coach Sherri Johnson and the Redhawks have the pieces to make a run at a second-straight title. Senior Sadie Johnson won the Class A vault, floor exercise and all-around championships in last year's state meet. Freshman Payge Ebbers is another returning state medalist.
Deuel, which slipped to fifth in the state last year, has a new coach Jake Evans replaces former Watertown standout Caitlin Steffensen. The Cardinals welcomes back junior MaKia Moe, who won the uneven bars and finished second in the all-around competition at state. Senior Hope Bjerke and freshman Hannah Cutshaw are other returning state place winners.
Moe is currently out with an injury and hopes to return before the end of the season.
The Cardinals opened their season Tuesday with a dual at Madison. The host Bulldogs won the meet 130.2-125.6. Cutshaw won floor exercise, uneven bars and all-around title. Bjerke won the vault.
Two other area teams, Milbank Area and Sisseton, also opened on Tuesday in a triangular at Sisseton. Sisseton won the meet with a 114.5 score and Milbank was third at 106.8. Sophomore Izzy Metz won the uneven bars for the host Redmen. Head coaches include Brittany Klapperich of Sisseton and Kelly Wollschlager of Milbank Area.
Britton-Hecla, which placed sixth in the state meet last winter, is slated to open its season on Tuesday by hosting Sisseton in a dual. Senior Sterling Mertens and sophomore Abigail Lee are returning state medalists for head coach Angela Grupe and the Braves.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Preseason look at the area Class AA and A high school gymnastics teams
