Cougs, Viks are ready for action

Bothell High’s gymnasts want to blast forth with dedication and sparkle with a positive attitude.

Inglemoor High’s well-muscled girls are bent on making an impact each practice and meet and raising their talent level through the roof — or at least higher than the lofty uneven parallel bars.

Both teams had girls who qualified individually for the 4A state meet last season, but this year they want the whole team performing at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Center come February. Since only one Kingco squad goes, the battle has begun with powerhouse defending state champ Woodinville and the rest of the conference.

Bothell

The Cougars won the whole thing four years ago, but a state title has eluded them since. Last year, the girls just missed out on making the state meet. This time out, state is on their slate once again.

Coach Mitch Craig’s crew feels it’s on the right track to get there.

“We’ve got a tough team, but we’ve got to work hard to match up to them (Woodinville),” said the 29-year Bothell coach.

Added senior co-captain Kennedy Gibson: “It’s not gonna be handed to us by any means.”

Gibson has been hot from the start, leading the Cougars to victory in a five-team matchup against Garfield, Eastlake, Mercer Island and Holy Names last Thursday. She won the all-around competition with a score of 35.0.

Bothell will have to continue winning without the services of sophomore Gina Puccio, who is competing with rival Woodinville this year. Puccio finished fifth all around, fourth on vault and eighth on floor at state last year. State returners Gibson and sophomore Karli Bodine like what the Cougars are putting on the floor this year.

“We’re improving ourselves,” Gibson said.

“As a (co-) captain, I have to be able to make an impact on all the girls on the team,” said senior Taylor Newton. “We want the girls keeping a positive attitude and mindset.”

During last Wednesday’s practice at the Northshore Gymnastics Center in Woodinville, both Bodine and junior Jasmine Boyd were models of concentration on the balance beam. Dressed in purple and pink tops, respectively, they stuck portions of their routines with tough faces that turned into smiles afterward.

Boyd said it helps to have teammates on their side during practice and meets.

“Positive (vibes) … we can all bounce off each other. If you’re not doing good individually, then we can motivate each other,” she said. “We’re dedicated — there’s a lot of things you have to have to be a good team. If you don’t have them …”

Added Bodine: “You have to really try, all the time and in practice. You really can contribute to the team.”

Inglemoor

Standout Amy Sisk remains in top form, and Becca Berge has returned to the mat with a vengeance after a two-year absence. It’s a one-two punch that gives Inglemoor a boost this year.

In a recent win against Lake Washington, Berge won the all around with a 34.45 and Sisk followed in second with 33.7, including a 9.3 victory on the floor.

“We have a lot of talent on our team, and we’d like to go one-two all of the meets,” said Sisk while nodding to Berge at last Wednesday’s practice at the Eastside Gymnastics facility in Woodinville. “And we want to stay uninjured this season.”

Berge, who won the 100-meter high-hurdles title at the Northshore School District Meet for Leota Junior High last year, is excited to be back alongside Sisk, her former Northwest Aerials gymnastics teammate. She also thought it would be a fun way to become closer with her Inglemoor classmates.

“I want to work hard to get to a higher level of gymnastics,” Berge said.

Added coach James Evans: “Becca’s one of the smartest girls I’ve met, and that synthesizes to performing well under pressure. She has to make very fast decisions, and that’s crucial to the scores she’s putting up.”

Evans said the Vikings “pay for it here in the gym” in practice, and then show off their skills at meets. Sophomore Melissa Fleuret is another top returner, and sophomore Shawna Kelly should be back in action soon after sitting out nine months with two broken ankles.

The coach notes that Sisk is a fierce competitor and keeps the girls motivated to do well.

“She’s a natural leader, whether it’s a jersey order or a pep talk at the beginning of the meet,” he said.

Sisk took seventh on the bars and also competed on the beam at state last year. Evans said that floor is Sisk’s top event and she should be in the running for the all-around title at state in February.

“I got to see what the competition was like at state, and it was nice to have that experience,” said Sisk, who clearly has visions of the Tacoma Dome in her eyes. “I’ve been doing gymnastics since I was 9, and I want to make these last two years count.”

Coach Evans and assistant Matthew Watson have given the girls a challenge to score big.

“If they get a 36 all around, I’ll do a back handspring on the high beam,” said Evans, adding that Watson will go vegetarian for a week. “It’s gonna be a lot of fun.”

Berge is looking forward to one thing: “I can’t wait for Woodinville.”