Gymnastics preview: Murgic is back to lead Irish gymnastics

Talk about it

Rosemount gymnastics coach Jason Passeri often uses the 140-point mark as a reference point when judging his team’s potential.

Last season, Passeri wasn’t expecting any 140-point team scores early, but then the Irish hit that total in just its fourth competition. Rosemount remained near or above the mark for the rest of the season.

This season, the coach is keeping expectations a bit lower — at least at the start.

“I think we’ll have a chance to get over 140 as a team, but we’ll maybe be more like 135 at the start,” Passeri said. “We might be mid-130s. We might not start as strong, but I think we’ll end out in the 140s.”

The guarded optimism isn’t for lack of talent. While all-state caliber all-arounder Katrina Clayton is gone, the Irish return senior Katie Murgic. Murgic is already a five-time all-conference, and all-section performer. She has also been all-state three times and all-state honorable mention twice.

“That would be a pretty cool honor if she could do it six years in a row,” Passeri said.

Rosemount lost just two seniors from last season, Clayton and Tara Gottschling. The Irish have also added a few new faces.

Claire Holtz is a sophomore who will be competing in high school for the first time. Holtz has been a level 9 gymnast with the Tags South club team in Apple Valley.

“She will definitely help us score,” Passeri said. “She is solid in all four events and will probably be our second all-arounder. She’s right up there about the same level as Katie.”

Ninth-grader Jenna Schlukebier also comes from a club team.

Macy Stearns and Claire Judeh return from last season. Both were all-section and all-conference honorable mention.

Among others, Passeri is expecting big things from Judeh, a ninth-grader.

“I think Claire can have a breakout season,” Passeri said. “She is one kid who is a real competitor. I think you’ll see her compete in the all-around.”

Passeri expects several other gymnasts to contribute, including Brooke Bohnert, Kathy Aune, Paige Henke, and Lindsey Weisensel.

“I know we’ll be able to count on those top three or so,” Passeri said. “With the other kids, they have the talent. It’s a matter of which one will step up and want to be on the varsity and help the team score. They’re all good athletes; it’s about which one step up. They all have the talent to do it.

“It won’t be like in past year’s where we have four all-arounders. We’ll probably use 12 different kids on varsity.”

Tags: sports, gymnastics