Gymnasts prepare to vault into competition as seasonal meets begin

Jumping through the air in colorful leotards, flexing the body in ways many cannot, these limber girls finally take center stage for yet another season. Wildcat gymnasts practice and compete in four events: Vault, Bars, Beam, and Floor. Entering a new paradigm, new head coach Wendy Schlies looks forward to using her experience and knowledge to advance the program. Luckily, Schlies doesn’t have to coach alone as she has help from assistant coach Kadi Hamer, who did gymnastics for 23 years and has now been assistant coach for three years. 

Just like everything else, practice makes perfect. Schlies plans to implement new ideas for this season.

“Practice schedules are a bit different, because of my schedule,” she said. “We can practice earlier than when they have in the past. Kadi and I are working directly together, so we’re kind of mixing it up and cohesively coaching as a whole.”

 Like any sport, the girls also do strength training. Contrary to other sports, there is weight or light weight training. The girls often do a lot of floor strength training, consisting of squat jumps, burpees, and push-ups. Another exercise commonly practiced is cardio, and the team does a lot of running to have the endurance to complete their routines.

“They do short routines, but they’re intense, so there’s a lot to do in a short amount of time; so a lot of sprinting,” Hamer said.

 Some changes that Schlies is bringing offer more of an emphasis on the idea of teamwork.

“We’re trying to build a family, so we’re doing a lot of team building and camaraderie, so they’re all comfortable with each other,” she said. “We’re working hard at individual and team goals as a whole so they can collectively work together to achieve those goals as a team family.”

Both Schlies and Hamer believe the girls are self-disciplined, and that they come and put in the work. It’s very clear the coaches aren’t dragging these girls to practice, but rather the girls are coming in voluntarily.

“Everyone learns differently and some kids are able to push themselves and discipline themselves just because they hold themselves to a certain level,” Hamer said. “Other girls do really well when coaches are pushing them, and that’s okay either way; we are trying to meet them where they’re at and give them what they need.” 

Schlies is very passionate about these girls getting the credit deserved, making it clear they need no help getting to work.

“They have come in here and busted their butts,” she said. “They are motivated and they are self disciplined, and Kadi and I have not had to force discipline on them. They are self driven athletes and work hard independently.” 

Team leader junior Janiyah Ford has been doing gymnastics since she was five, adding up to 11 years. She takes pride in her role on the team.

 “The fact that I have this role makes me feel really accomplished because I know a lot of people look up to me, so the idea that the coaches see that and everyone around me sees the effort I’m putting in makes me happy,” she said. 

Ford credits her success in performance to mindset.

“I know a leader is really confident and believes in themselves, so I just always think that I can do whatever I put my mind to,” she said. “I just have to attack it and go for it, and hopefully it turns out well, and most of the time it does.”

There is more to the team than the leaders this year, and many of the girls feel this season will be better than others. 

Ford believes the key to success will be defined by trust.

 “We already know each other pretty well and we’ve only been doing this for a week, so I’m pretty comfortable with everyone,” she said. “I think they’re comfortable with me, so we’re going to do better this year.” 

Ford already sees gains.

“There’s a more positive environment, and we do a lot of team bonding to get to know each other,” she said. “That’s really important in terms of having a good team. I feel like team bonding and knowing each other is really integral for having a set team.”

Senior Ellis Coe has been doing gymnastics since she was in first grade, and she believes this year will top previous experiences.

“I feel this year we’re going to be more on the same page and work towards our goals to be the best we can be more than past years, and hopefully win conference again,” she said. 

Coe also believes that this year differs from others due to their new coach.

“We have a new coach this year, and she’s really trying to get us to be a team,” she said. “She tries to push us as far as she can, and it’s a lot more communication and a lot more group work.”

Being one of the most demanding sports physically and mentally requires focus and passion, which Ford always tries to bring.

 “Since I’ve done it for 11 years, I just have so much love for the sport that I can’t get away from it,” she said. 

Coe looks back fondly on a childhood that sparked her love for gymnastics. 

“When I was little I used to go to open gym with my friend every Friday, and then my mom put me in classes. I would go home and teach myself new skills everyday until I finally did it,” she said. “I just think that it’s such a unique sport and it’s so hard and no one knows it because it looks easy. It’s such a good mix of dance and expression and hard work, and I love it.”

Senior year always brings on bittersweet emotions for athletes.

“I’m trying to make the most out of it,” Coe said. “I’m getting a new floor routine and I’m trying to do the skills I’ve been too scared to do the past three years since it’s my last year ever doing gymnastics. I’m just trying to have fun and get better and I’m actually doing my strength this year.”

Coe has a favorite aspect of the sport.

 “My favorite is beam because I feel that it’s a single event and you have to fully focus and work hard to get each skill and it’s fun,” she said.

Ford is thankful for her natural abilities.

“I was lucky enough to have the base skills where I can advance farther and I don’t have the fear, or the blocks that most people have,” she said.

Such mental blocks motivate Ford.

“I think the fact that it’s nerve-wracking helps push me to be better and perfect every skill,” she said. “Last year I was .03 from making it to state for beam. My favorite skill is probably my backhandspring on the beam. Sometimes it’s really inconsistent, but when I hit it, it’s good and it makes me happy that I stay on, and I get a good score.”

Still, Ford prevails because of the team behind her.

“I’m around so many people that I love and have known forever, so I just have to keep coming back,” she said.

by  Ashley Shumann

Published November 27 2023

Oshkosh West Index Volume 120 Issue II