New spring floor gives an edge

By Dean Wong

In gymnastics, the Ballard Beavers will start challenging the top teams in KingCo this year with the help of some experienced freshmen and a brand new spring floor.

The floor enables gymnasts to jump higher to earn better scores. Ballard is the first Seattle high school with a spring floor. Garfield will have one when their new building is finished. Most Eastside schools have the spring floors.

"We finally got one," said head coach Stephanie Gundel. "Ballard finally has modern equipment. We set it up and already you can see how much better the tumbling was."

The league prefers to hold meets on spring floors and has rewarded the Beavers with three home meets this season because of it.

The floor will only be used for meets, not practices. "We have a lot of good tumblers and that will make the level of gymnastics that gets performed that much better," said Gundel.

"The new floor is really cool. You can't feel it when you walk on it, but when you hit it with force, it makes a difference," said co-captain Audra McCafferty.

Parents had raised $14,000 to buy a spring floor. Principal Phil Brockman convinced the school district to buy one with district funds instead. The gymnastics program used the money parents collected on new bars.

"The spring floor is wonderful. Tumbling on wrestling mats, everyone gets injured and it's really hard to do a lot of skills. We are grateful to have a spring floor," said co-captain Rebecca Morse.

Seven seniors have returned this year, including Johanna Juarez who went to the 4A Gymnastics Championships at the Tacoma Dome last season and earned second place on the beam and seventh in the floor exercise. She was named one of the Seattle Times High School Athletes of the Year. In the off season she worked out at Seattle Pacific University, where Gundel has coached and competed.

"She is going to do well. She has increased the difficulty of some events," said Gundel.

In true team spirit, Juarez declined to talk about her individual success. "I think the whole team will have a good year. I feel strongly about the entire team," said Juarez.

Ten freshmen with gymnastics experience will have an immediate impact. They include Taylor Stern, Erica Redman and Molly Barnes. "The freshman are naturals," said McCafferty.

Gundel says Stern is very consistent all-round and should do well on all the events. Barnes is good on the beam and floor. Both freshmen, including Redman have gymnastics club backgrounds.

"The freshmen are really talented. I expect them to do real well. I'm excited about the season. There is a lot of talent," said Gundel.

Veterans Juarez and teammate Marimar White-Espin add to the talent mix at Ballard as they try to challenge the KingCo leaders.

Woodinville and Bothell are to top teams again this season, despite Bothell star Carrie Dragland graduating.

"I expect us to be right up there competing with them. This team is the best team I've had in my five years by far," said Gundel.

The season opens with a home meet on Thursday, Nov. 29, 7 p.m., against Inglemoor and Juanita.