Gymnastics: Talented gymnasts return hoping for next step

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The way last season ended, the Rosemount gymnastics team and coach Jason Passeri likely wanted to take some time off to unwind.

After all, ranked No. 7 at the time, the Irish lost to Woodbury in the section meet by just .35 points, missing a shot at the state meet.

“We missed it, that was a tough one,” Passeri said.

Rosemount finished 7-2 in the Lake Conference, won the Simley, Buffalo and Prior Lake meets and placed second at Park. But a trip to the state meet would have been the perfect cap to the season.

Now, with some time off to refresh, the Irish are eager to see if they can finish things off this year.

“We have a good chance to be a top-10 team, but a lot of teams are much better,” Passeri said. “You can’t predict. There is a lot of good teams. It’s one of those deals that you never know until you get there, but we could be one of the better teams in the state.

“I am a little more nervous.

Passeri will get the chance to start using that nervous energy when Rosemount starts the season Saturday at the Simley invitational, a tournament they have won four years in a row.

With two gymnasts gone from last year’s team, there are only six varsity spots open this year that won’t be filled by returning gymnasts.

Katie Murgic and Katrina Clayton return as all-state gymnasts from last year, and Tara Gottschling was all-state honorable-mention.

Other returning varsity gymnasts include Macy Stearns, Claire Judeh, Dani Walsh and Kathy Aune. McKenzie Morris has a chance to compete with the varsity as well.

“Things are going pretty well,” Passeri said. “Most of our girls play two or three sports. They are usually a little rusty with their gymnastics. A lot of schools have those girls that train all year.

“It might take a little longer to get ready this year than in the past. But, the girls have the skills and they will get it back.”

Tags: sports, gymnastics