The Mail-Journal, Volume 21, Number 44, Milford, Kosciusko County, 14 November 1984 — Page 28

New coach to guide talented gymnasts

By TOM CHARLES Sports Editor Wawasee has built a proud gymnastics tradition and this year that will be passed on to a new head coach. Barb Trobaugh, a 1977 Wawasee graduate and area gymnastics instructor, has been appointed to guide the team while last year’s head coach, Kim Conrad, is on a leave of absence. She will be assisted by another WHS graduate and former gymnast. Deb Haab. The team starts practice near the end of November and does not have its first meet until January 14 —a fact that helps Trobaugh as she gets acquainted with her team. “We should have about 18 girls out this year,” she said. “From what I know already, I think this team is really strong. A lot of the girls that are competing now started in gymnastics when they were really young.” Among the leading returnees from last year’s sectional runnerup squad are Jeanine Gunn. Kathy Campbell, Raeni Rinker and Angie Graff. They are expected to form the nucleus of this year’s optional team. Campbell, a sophomore, was the Warriors top finisher in the sectional and was the only optional team member to qualify regional Rinker missed qualifying for the regional by a mere .15 points and Gunn did not compete in post-season action due to an injury. “Jeanine, Kathy, Raeni and Angie should all be big assets for us this year,” said Trobaugh. “I didn't watch Kathy perform much last year, but I know her talent. She will be tough I also think that Suellen Free will be a big help to us this year "

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RETURNING GYMNASTS — Pictured above are some of the returning letterwinners on this year’s Wawasee gymnastics team. The squad begins its season in January. In the front row are Sherry Daniels, Shelly Daniels, Stephanie

One of last year’s optional performers who will not be back is junior Heidi Beer. As a freshman, she placed second on the balance beam in the sectional. However, knee and ankle injuries hampered her last year and she has .decided not to try competition this winter. Intermediate The Warriors were also strong on the level last year and nothing should change in that department this year. Paula Smith, the all-around intermediate sectional champion, is back along with regional

qualifiers Tressa Littleton. Shelly Daniels and Stephanie Crow. What remains to be seen is how many of those girls make the switch from intermediate to optional competition. Until practices begin. Trobaugh has no idea of how the girls will be divided. “We are going to hold tryouts for the optional team,” she said. “We will set up certain standards that the girls have to reach in order to make that level. That will done sometime in December.” “The tryouts are going to be a big thing for me. ” Trobaugh add-

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Crow and Angie Graff. In the second row are Irma Cruz, Raeni Rinker, Staci Ostendorf and Tressa Littleton. Kathy Campbell and Jeanine Gunn were not present for the photo. (Mail-Journal Photo)

ed. “It will give me an idea of how hard the girls are willing to work for the positions that they want. I’m just going to have to do a lot of sorting and basically start from scratch.” “In some ways, it doesn’t feel like it’s been that long since I was part of the team here,” she said. “I’m excited about the situation — I think I work better under pressure.” Practice If there is one thing that worries Trobaugh. it’s the lack of practice time before her team's

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first meet. The Warriors have a little over a month to learn their new routines before they square off against West Noble in the opener. “That really is too short a period of time,” she said. “We do have a lot of experience, but the girls in optional have to learn new routines and it’s hard in that amount of time.” The Warriors have five home meets during the regular season and will host the sectional on February 25.