Confidence springs gymnasts into postseason

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- The New Ulm gymnastics team seems to be peaking at just the right time.

The Eagles go into the South Central Conference tournament the winner of the conference dual meet season. In their last two meets, the New Ulm gymnastics team has set records, come close to others, and have reached their top team scores of the year.

The team set a new floor record at 35.925, and Allison Betsch set the all-around record at 35.4.

The Eagles finished with 136.05 against Martin County West Thursday, Jan. 30, and reached 136.175 against Fairmont Tuesday, Jan. 28.

"I think we have hit a level of consistency," said Eagle coach Jeanine Backer. "Our performances have been good, but not great. We have had nice scores, but we really haven't had a meet where we've pulled it all together."

"We've improved so much since the beginning of the season," said junior Lacey Stolt. "In the last few weeks, we have really stepped it up a lot."

What the team needs to do now is use that confidence they have acquired when they compete in the SCC tournament Friday at St. Peter where they will face their closest pursuing team -- Waseca. There, Backer would like to see the team reach a score of 137 or 138.

The Eagles beat Waseca earlier in the dual meet season 133.3 to 131.975. Although that score was close, Backer and the girls are confident they can beat out Waseca for the top SCC slot.

"Waseca is not far behind, but we have the advantage," said Backer. "We won the dual meet against them, so we have that confidence."

The Eagles know how it feels to go into the SCC tournament in that position. Last year, New Ulm had lost to Fairmont in the dual meet season, and Backer said they felt like they were trying to catch up the rest of the time.

This year, the Eagles have the psychological advantage, and they may be adding some things in at SCC to secure their win and use some of the newer tricks before Sections. Team members were glad to have a full week of practice, with the postponement of their Worthington meet Tuesday, to get things in order.

"It gives us a chance to work on the skills we need to improve," said junior Amanda Andrews. "I think that if everyone stays on the beam, I do think we can raise our score."

Allison Betsch will be adding a round off back handspring full twist to her floor routine, and Amber Bianchi will be adding a fly spring, fly spring, front full to hers. Kristin Johnson will also be doing a new vault -- a handspring one-and-a-half. Backer wants her girls to feel comfortable with the tricks, so if they do them well in practice today, they will go ahead with them. Otherwise they will hold off.

Team members are trying to take it one meet at a time, but they also can't help but look ahead to the Section matchups. They feel like the SCC tournament and the Worthington meet to be held Monday are tests before they move on.

"It kind of shows what our competition is like and what we need ot work on," junior Amanda Andrews said about the SCC tournament. "It gives us a different perspective on what lies ahead."

Coach Backer feels that if they do win on Friday, it will give the girls more confidence when they face Worthington Monday. Worthington is a top team in the section with an average score of 135.1. New Ulm has averaged 134.44, and Jackson has averaged 134.87.

"It's all a confidence thing," Backer said. "If we give Worthington a run for their money, we can do better later."

But first, the Eagles have to get through the SCC tournament, which will be held at the St. Peter Armory Friday at 6:30 p.m.