Page 96 - 2000.Millard.North

Senior Michelle Bell practices
her beam routine before a meet
against Papillion. Bell played a
key ro le in the teams' success thi s
season and went on to compete at
state. photo by Michael Hellman.

Gymnastics: front-Jessica Gould, Kai tli n Fi scher, Jenny Junk, Megan
Comstock, Natalie Connell , Katie Lasher, Lind sey Dame seco nd row-
Rachel Mal y, Kate Harman, Nicol e Gree n, Brenna Carson, Nicole
Johnson, Coach Bridget Kowal Back-Michell e Bell, Jill Irwin, Brittany
Ford, Angela Dyczek, Hillary Wynn . not pictured Allison Berry. Andrea
Berry. photo by Jack Martiu

This year marked the end of a All through the year, the team year to be th e leaders.
sanctioned state gymnastics meet in which included 18 girl s (a large number "There was a lot more senior
Nebraska, and the last time a team for gymnastics) was able to pull together leadership; they made all the plans for
would earn the title state champions. and win every competition. team activities," Green said.
The gymnastics team claimed that Coach Bridget Kowal said that In the end, all the hard work
honor along with many others hiring a part time assistant coach would and team unity paid off when the team
throughout the year. be beneficial to all members of the team, won the state meet.
The success of the season allowing each gymnast to get more "It's a great feeling to be the
began with the teams' big win at the individual coaching. last state champions," Dyczek said.
Ralston Invite. This victory was "Thi s year getting each team In additi on to being state
important because they defeated last member involved in practices and meets champions, Dyczek along with senior
year's state champions Lincoln East. was a challenge, but the large numbers Michelle Bell, sophomore Andrea Berry
"Winning the first meet got were good for the team as a whole," and freshman Katie Lasher qualified for
our season off to a great start," sopho- Kowal said. elite all -American honors.
more Rachel Maly said. 'This year we worked better as a Kowal said that the team had
Following that win the team team. Eeryone did their routines and an overall great season, not just at the
stayed strong and finished the season as kn ew what they had to do," senior state meet, and that the state champion-
Metro champions for the ninth time in a Angela Dyczek said . ship was very special.
row, and became the last state gymnas- Sophomore Nicole Green said " It 's neat to be the finale in the
tics champions. th at th e seniors reall y stepped up this record books," Kowal said .

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