Talent and togetherness power young NHS gymnastics team

Freshmen and sophomores led the Niwot Cougars to the first victory of the girls gymnastics season last week. Coach Marisa Purcell said the meet was a "great start" for her young team that beat a smaller, injury-depleted Ft. Morgan team 170.95 to 104.45.

Sophomore Maeve Flentie won all-around with a score of 35.00, sophomore Claire Vardas was second at 34.00 and freshman Kylee Schlepp finished third with 32.90 in the Class 4A meet against Ft. Morgan. Another freshman, Lilly O'Neill, took top honors in bars with a score of 8.8.

"My younger ones are at a high level of gymnastics," Purcell said. "The foundation is there." The coach said the goal for this first meet was to get her young team used to the fast pace of high school gymnastics and to become more comfortable in front of the judges.

The coach loves seeing the girls improve the way Flentie has from her first to second year of competition. "Just having that freshman year under her belt, you could see the confidence and just knowing what to expect," Purcell said. "She did so well. It's fun to watch them be able to gain that confidence in a year's time."

Both JV and varsity gymnasts performed well in their first meet. "Just kind of taking it all in and doing one event, one skill, one thing at a time and we have a building point for there," Purcell said.

That build will include more high-level skills added to the routines as the season evolves and the girls get more comfortable and confident.

Purcell is excited to have a young team. "It's great because we'll have more time with them for the next couple years," she said.

But that doesn't mean they'll take a pass this year. "We have a lot of really good talent and we'll be able to contend," Purcell said, despite having just two seniors, Ava Silverstein and Nia Terrell.

Having talent is important, but it's just part of what makes a successful high school gymnastics team, according to Purcell. "A team's morale is one of the most important things for how I coach."

Part of building that morale is a change in mindset. Gymnastics is an individual sport until the girls get to high school. "You have to learn to do routines for your teammates, not just yourself," she said "You have to want your teammate to do better than you do."

Another part of building morale is forging connections between girls who don't go to the same school. Niwot is a district team, meaning they draw gymnasts from other high schools in the St. Vrain Valley School District. They have to get to know each other in practice and through activities outside of school. Purcell is encouraged by what she sees so far.

"This team works so well together. They have all embraced each other. They have all opened their arms for each and every one. They are having a blast with each other. It's refreshing and so fun to watch and I know that bond is only going to get stronger and stronger as the season goes on," she said.