WEST SALEM — West Salem co-op gymnastics coach understands what this week has been.
She and her assistant coaches and her athletes spent a long time creating the path they are on this weekend, and now is the time to give it the best possible ending.
The Panthers, who also include gymnasts from Aquinas and Bangor, did the hard work by placing second in a WIAA Division 1 sectional in Eau Claire last weekend. That’s where they secured their fifth consecutive team qualification for the state tournament over the next two days in Wisconsin Rapids.
“This is another week to spend with the seniors, and I am enjoying it,” O’Hearn said at a practice earlier this week. “They know their routines.”
The final few days of practicing at the Panther Den set were ones to bond and set up an experience that many of them have had before … some of them three times already.
A sendoff from each of the schools put them on the road Thursday, and a couple of team meals and swimming at the hotel awaited as a way to keep things lose and making the trip about more than gymnastics.
But gymnastics was the crux of the experience, and the Panthers have been performing all season like they are prepared for that.
West Salem, which has four seniors on its roster of 14, is one of 10 teams competing today for a team championship, and a few of them will compete as individuals again on Saturday.
Senior Camdyn Lyga qualified from the sectional all-around, while senior Olivia Maki is entered on the vault, senior Hayden Rohde on the uneven bars and sophomore Grace Olson on the balance beam.
All three are also helping the Panthers place as high as they can as a group today.
The Panthers placed eighth during their first state appearance as a Division 1 program last year, and that followed a sixth-place finish in 2022 and two runner-up finishes the next two years in Division 2.
It’s a significant run of success.
“We go into it knowing we still have to fight for it,” said Rohde, who won the uneven bars at the sectional with a 9.175. “We end up making it every year, which is cool, but we still have to work for it.”
Lyga said preparation for state competition is similar to what the team does throughout the season. Known most for her floor exercise, Lyga’s 9.3 at the sectional was the highest in the state.
“I treat it like any other meet because if you treat it like something else, you can get nervous,” Lyga said. “”I just do that to try and do my best.”
Lyga and O’Hearn decided to remove one leap from Lyga’s routine midseason, and that has improved the flow of the performance.
“Last year, I think I struggled because I was stressed about what I could do,” Lyga said. “This year, I know I can do it. I just have to relax.
“I love doing floor, and I love dancing and being in front of everyone nd hearing everyone cheer. So, I try to live in the moment and not worry about what else has gone on and focus on what I can do.”
