UW-Stout/UW-Whitewater Preview
MENOMONIE (January 17, 2019) – The preseason has been a little bit of surprise for UW-Stout gymnastics coach
Becky Beaulieu and her staff.
Beaulieu came into the season thinking the 2019 season might be a year to lay a foundation, then use that foundation to launch into the 2020 season.
But the first couple of months of workouts have been amazing, Beaulieu said. And the coach, who begins her 14
th year at the helm of the Blue Devils, believes the boost can be credited to her 14 returners, and new assistant coach
Seth Helland.
"They are very much challenging for that championship culture," Beaulieu said. "There is a chemistry and a camaraderie that is very uplifting to us all.
Beaulieu also attributes some of the preseason success to her first-year assistant coach,
Seth Helland.
"Seth brings a certain life and energy to this gym," Beaulieu said. "There is synergy going on in in Gym 220."
Heading the returners is the leadership team, made up of one senior, Chelsey Gray, and two juniors,
Brooke Terry and
Sierra Beaver.
"All three leaders definitely raise the standard of the team," Beaulieu said. "They are invested, hungry and on the same page."
Gray is the lone senior on the team and has been an anchor for the team's balance beam performance, last year scoring a 9.675.
"Chelsey is solid and very reliable on the beam," Beaulieu said. "As a fourth-year athlete, she came to me to say that we need more depth on the uneven bars (and volunteered to add the bars)." Gray has not competed on the uneven bars since her freshman year, a move Beaulieu believes the underclassmen in the room will pay attention.
"When the kids see a senior willing to be a back-up and step up to the plate," Beaulieu said, "they take notice."
Terry heads a strong six-member junior class, and last year earned NCGA All-America honors by finishing fourth in the all-around event. Terry competed collegiately in the all-around last year for the first time and advanced to the NCAA Division I regionals, the first Stout to advance to the Division I regionals in several years.
Terry's strongest event was the balance beam, but to point out the strides Terry made last season, Beaulieu pointed out that as a freshman "Terry competed exhibition on the beam and is now our sixth up and strongest competitor."
"Brooke continues to train with the passion and the fire she demonstrated last season," Beaulieu said.
Beaulieu believes the junior class "will make heads turn. They make up a bulk of our competitive routines."
Mikala Bugge, who earned All-America honors on the vault during her freshman year.
"We think Mikala is coming into her own and we anticipate her moving into the all-around," Beaulieu said. "She looks strong and totally trusts the program and the coaching staff."
Beaulieu sees a bit of herself in
Belle Ihde, who is expected to compete in three to four events.
"Belle reminds me of myself," Beaulieu said. "She is strong willed, and this year is very willing to work with the coaches to improve."
"All three (Terry, Bugge, Ihde) are looking stronger than before and all three will tear it up," Beaulieu said.
Sierra Beaver had a strong 2018 season, coming up just shy of the school uneven bar record and went on to finish fifth at the conference meet in the event. She earned NCGA All-America honors with a fifth placed finish on the uneven bars and was an alternate to the NCAA Division I Regional meet.
"We want to make her junior year about loving gymnastics, balance and loving life," Beaulieu said.
Mallary Dick is capable of competing two to four events, with the former state high school uneven bars champion anchoring the bars, along with Beaver.
"Mallary is working her tail off and we are hoping she can reap the benefits from that," Beaulieu said.
Sierra Coonts is recovering from surgery and the staff believes she will be available for work on the uneven bars and possibly the balance beam
Coonts, who also does pole vault for the Blue Devils' track and field team, will compete on both the uneven bars and the balance beam.
"Sierra is naturally talented and can light up a room," Beaulieu said.
Wrapping up the junior class is
Saga Svantesson, who has spent the last two years expanding her talents, Beaulieu said.
Beaulieu hopes a double layout dismount off the uneven bars, a move that is valued as an E move will help her to see varsity action on the uneven bars.
Shadae Boone heads up the team's largest class, the seven-member sophomore class. Injuries limited Boone last season to only three meets, but Boone could very well be one of up to five members that compete in the all-around this season.
"Shadae has been working very hard and looks teed up to have a strong year," Beaulieu said. "We are excited to get her out there. In many ways, Shadae can influence the energy and personality of the gym."
Boone's best event may be the vault, where she was a Level 10 Region 4 champion, scoring a 9.85 on the event.
Maddy Mullenbach, a state high school all-around, floor exercise and balance beam champion, worked three events for the Blue Devils last season – vault, balance beam and floor exercise. Beaulieu expects the same from Mullenbach again this year.
"Maddy is very purposeful about her gymnastics and about her training," Beaulieu said.
Emma Sirjord was also a three-event athlete last season, with the balance beam as her strength, in addition to the vault and floor exercise.
"We hope to see Emma back out there in all three events," Beaulieu said. "We want to see her really believe in herself. When she is confident, she is unstoppable."
A Roseville, Minn., High School,
Olivia Rosenow carried the experience of a successful program with her last season.
A state uneven bars champion, "Olivia knows what it is like to be a member of a top-notch team, Beaulieu said. "When she is training with fire and grit, she can compete with anyone. We want to see her live up to her potential."
"We are challenging
Maddy Lord to be present and in the moment," Beaulieu said. "There is more talent there than she realizes. We are proud of her for stepping up and overcoming her fears by going after some of those big skills."
Cassie Ehman had surgery over the summer, which is limiting her work in the gym.
"Cassie is embracing her new role," Beaulieu said. "She is a big leader of that sophomore class. We can feel her presence and her personality."
Freshman
Britney Wolfe is the second gymnast from Hawaii the Blue Devils have had during this decade, following in the footsteps of four-time national champion Naomi DeLara.
Wolfe is listed as an all-arounder and will be looked at to compete in three to four events. Wolfe has a strong history on the balance beam, scoring a 9.70 at a Level 10 Junior Olympics meet.
"We will challenge Britney to work on the whole package, the artistry, presentation and the dynamics," Beaulieu said. "She has the talent. Now we just need her to put the bow on the package."
Madison Latkzke, a former Blue Devil summer camper, could perform on as many as three events. Beaulieu said that Latzke will help with depth on the events, but has a strong presence on the vault where she throws a layout Yurchenko full which has a start value of 9.95.
Jackie Bertrand may see some time on the uneven bars and could also work beam and floor.
Maria Wagner hails from the same gym – Midwest Gymnastics – that Beaulieu trained. Wagner is a Level 10 performer who will work primarily the floor, but is capable on the beam.
Samantha Abler had a strong high school career and could see time on the floor, vault or bars, with the floor exercise her strong suit.
The Blue Devils will open the season Friday, Jan. 18 when they host UW-Whitewater at 6 p.m. The Blue Devils will be home again Feb. 1 when they host Hamline University and UW-Eau Claire in the John Zuerlein Invitational. Stout will host Winona State University in a dual meet Friday, Feb. 8
Stout will be the host for the WIAC Championship/NCGA West Regional, Saturday, March 9 at 2 p.m. in Johnson Fieldhouse
