Generals, Titans looking to uphold lofty standards
Sophomore Kira Lehman is back after an outstanding freshman season for the Wooster High gymnastics team.
The two standards of the Northeast Gymnastics Conference in recent years have been Wooster and Triway.
This season should be no different as both programs are eager to keep their hold atop the league standings and have another banner year.
And while the Generals and Titans lost some talented gymnasts to graduation, each team has a host of individuals ready for their chance this winter.
WOOSTER
“We are starting with a great deal of young gymnasts in a new gymnastics format,” Wooster coach Megan Hackett said. “The girls are eager to start competing and are willing to put in the hard work to be successful.”
The Generals, who went 6-1 in the NEGC last year, have just two upperclassman — senior Madison Jennings and junior Mara French — in a lineup dominated by freshmen and sophomores.
For most, competing against some of the top teams in the state would be a daunting task with such a young roster. But for Wooster, the majority of the young talent has a wealth of club gymnastics experience to lean on.
“I have a great deal of girls that have been doing gymnastics for five or more years,” said Hackett, a former WHS standout who is in her second stint as Generals coach. “They have a ton of experience in competing. These girls have worked very hard in the offseason to get their requirements and upgrade their skills for competition.”
Leading the youth movement for the Generals is the sophomore tandem of Danielle Hendrix and Kira Lehman. Hendrix was sixth all-around in the conference last season while Lehman overcome a late-season injury to win the bars at the NEGC Winter Classic and place third in the floor exercise.
According to Hackett, newcomers in sophomore Carmela Duta and freshman Rowyn Hafner also should have an impact, along with sophomore returnee Amarah Painter and the freshman trio of Jayda Conaway, Kassidy Kartisek and Molly Watson.
TRIWAY
Triway is coming off an undefeated season in the league, and like the Generals, Triway will lean on a mix of veterans and rookies to keep that winning tradition going.
Despite having its smallest roster in recent years, the Titans do return some talent, headlined by senior Rileigh Hostetler, who has been among the team’s top scorers in each of the last three seasons and was fourth all-around in the conference a year ago, thanks to a fourth on the floor, a fifth on the vault, and a seventh on both the balance beam and uneven bars.
The thing that stands out to third-year coach Angie Mullen about this group is how it goes about its business.
“We handle pressure really well and always are able to stay focus and composed while we compete,” she said. “We work hard at practice and put in the work that we need to in order to stay competitive.”
Fellow senior Lilee Mullen also is back for Triway, along with sophomores Parker Clippinger and Miley Jarvis.
A key addition to the team has been freshman Gabby Mullen, who is expected to make an immediate impact when the team opens the winter at Wadsworth on Dec. 4.