Members of the MHS gymnastics team are from left, front row, Grace Keller, Maggie Speasmaker, Amber Earnest, Malia DiDonato, Katelyn Rabe, Megan Erickson and Hannah Bates; back row, Lindsey Itnyre, Lauren Deere, Leah Bressler, Jamison Geer, Brooklyn Heller, Mary Calvert and Hannah Scheiderer. Not pictured, Rachel Sievers.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
The Marysville High School gymnastics team has a wealth of experience returning from the 2016-17 squad that won the Ohio Capital Conference championship.
The group is led by seniors Leah Bressler and Rachel Sievers.
Bressler will perform on the uneven parallel bars, while Sievers’ top event is the balance beam.
Versatility may best be the way to describe the team’s trio of juniors.
Lindsey Itnyre, Lauren Deere and Megan Erickson each compete in at least two events.
Itnyre and Deere are both strong on the vault, beam and floor exercises.
Erickson specializes in the bars and floor.
The biggest group of returnees is in the sophomore class.
Mary Calvert competes in the vault, bars, beam and floor, while Grace Keller and Katelyn Rabe are strong on the bars and beam.
Amber Earnest competes on the beam and in the floor exercises, while Malia DiDonato specializes on the vault and bars.
Brooklyn Heller and Jamison Geer compete in the floor exercises.
The veterans will be supplemented by three freshmen – Hanna Bates, Hannah Scheiderer and Jennifer McKillen – and sophomore Maggie Speasmaker.
“All four are solid all-around gymnasts,” said Monarch coach Amber Calvert. “They have some real strength on the balance beam.”
Calvert said the Lady Monarchs’ goal is to repeat as conference champions.
“It will not be easy with the seniors we lost,” she said. “However, I have a hard-working and dedicated team.”