By MIKE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
The Stevens Point Area Senior High gymnastics team is looking for bigger and better things after a successful 1998-99 season.
The Panthers, who were seventh at the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association team championships and undefeated in Wisconsin Valley Conference competition a year ago, have five returnees from last year's state competition.
"I think we're going to be better than last year. We have a better team," SPASH coach Mary Olszewski said. "I really think we've improved enough, and with the girls we added, we're stronger.
"I expect us to go to state and do better there."
Leading the list of returnees are seniors Kimberly Jo Barden, Tracy Knippel and Katie Meyer.
Barden finished ninth at state in the individual balance beam and participated in all four team events while Knippel was 20th in individual floor exercise competition and was in the floor exercise, balance beam and uneven bars events in the team championships. Meyer competed in the floor exercise, balance beam and uneven bars in the team competition.
Sophomores Kim Klosno and Jenna Weinbauer are back from last year's state team, too. Klosno was in the floor exercise, vaulting and uneven bars events in team competition and Weinbauer competed in the balance beam.
One newcomer that will help offset the losses of graduated Chelynne Latz (25th in individual uneven bars) and Gretchen Marx - who both competed in team competition - is sophomore Raenee Bugarske.
Sophomores Nikki Cruz, Stefanie Neidermann and Kelly Nornberg, as well as freshmen Anne Simonis and Carrie Williamson could also be in the mix with the varsity team.
Olszewski said SPASH's strongest events will probably be the floor exercise and the balance beam. She will get the first look at her team Saturday at the Menominee Invitational.
"I expect to take first (Saturday)," Olszewski said. "We go against Rapids, who is in the conference, and that's the toughest team we're going against."
In the conference, Olszewski expects D.C. Everest, Wisconsin Rapids and Antigo to be the teams that will try and challenge the Panthers.