Preps notebook: City teams focused ahead of state gymnastics meet

photo by: Andrew Rosenthal

Lawrence High's Paris Spotted Tail performs her floor routine at the Sunflower League meet on Saturday, Oct. 6.

Following the conclusion of the 2017 season, Lawrence High gymnasts Josie Hickerson and Eden Kingery formed the plan.

Hickerson and Kingery, who are now seniors at LHS, came up with the idea to make the most of their final week of practice. As a result, the duo created several different themes for a spirit week during the week leading up to the 2018 KSHSAA state gymnastics meet.

“We talked about it last year after state,” Hickerson said. “It keeps us loose and it keeps us having fun during the week. It is just a fun environment leading into a really big meet.”

Lawrence High senior Josie Hickerson competes during the LHS home meet on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018.

Free State and Lawrence, both of which practice together on a daily basis, will compete in the state meet at 11 a.m. Saturday at Shawnee Mission South. Both programs have a chance to medal after placing in the top 3 at the Sunflower League meet.

But the beauty of the spirit week is that every athlete on the two city teams has a positive mindset before the biggest event of the year.

“It seems like everyone is getting into it,” second-year head coach Michelle Seidner said. “(Sunday) we had a spontaneous practice, and everyone was decked out in rainbow. I love it. It is bringing them together and helping us stay focused for Saturday.”

This is the first such year that the two teams have had a spirit week, though Hickerson got the idea from her club gymnastics team.

Monday was decades day, in which athletes and coaches wore outfits from previous decades to practice. Tuesday was twin day; Wednesday is inside-out day. Players agreed to make Thursday fun/old leotard day. Both teams will then wear their team shirts to Friday’s practice.

photo by: Andrew Rosenthal

Free State’s Chaney Finkeldei does her routine in the beam at the league meet Saturday, Oct. 6.

The outfits, which are only for practice, have helped relieve pressure for some of the younger athletes.

“I’m so excited for the state meet,” LHS freshman Paris Spotted Tail said. “I’m hoping our team comes out on top. It has been a really great year so far.”

At this point, both programs understand what needs to be done to have success this weekend.

Lawrence has won multiple meets this year and claimed fifth during last year’s state meet. Since the start of the season, the Lions have been on a mission to earn some hardware this time around.

Hickerson, Kingery and Spotted Tail have been stellar for much of the season. Kingery and Spotted Tail both finished in the top 4 in all-around ranking at the league meet.

Free State’s Talia Gay, meanwhile, has been flawless during her sophomore campaign. Gay, who earned second at state last year, placed first in the all-around rankings at the Sunflower League meet. Chaney Finkeldei (18th) and Tori Crockett (30th) each finished in the top 30 for the Firebirds, who are aiming for a podium finish at the state meet as well.

“We didn’t place in the first few weeks as a team,” Finkeldei said. “A lot of people just hadn’t done high school gymnastics. So I think we are just learning what you can get points for and bonuses.”

State girls golf tournament

Firebirds place ninth

The Free State girls golf team took ninth place at the 6A state golf tournament Tuesday at Salina Municipal Golf Course.

FSHS shot a 399 as a team, which was 76 strokes behind the state champion Mill Valley. The Firebirds posted a better score than three other teams in Class 6A. Sophomore Claire Covert recorded the highest mark for Free State, carding a 98 to tie for 48th on the individual leaderboard.

Juniors Kennedy Birk and Tyler Bane shot a 99 and 100, respectively. Junior Hannah Vaughn finished with a 102, and junior Kate Lawrence tallied a 108.

LHS senior claims 18th

Lawrence High had just three golfers qualify for the 6A state tournament in Salina.

Senior Beatrice Lopez paced the Lions by placing 18th with a score of 87. It marked the highest finish for Lopez at the state tournament, who qualified for the meet three times during her four-year career. Lopez finished 14 strokes back of Mill Valley senior Sarah Lawson, who was the individual champion.

Freshman Rylie Hayden finished with a 97, while junior Josie Abernathy shot 133.

Seabury’s Hedges notches third

Bishop Seabury junior Faith Hedges added some more hardware to her resume.

During Monday’s 3-2-1A state golf meet, Hedges battled through wet conditions at Emporia Municipal Golf Course. Hedges finished with a score of 81, which earned her third place and was just five strokes behind Rylie Cook, of Stanton County High School.

Hedges won the state tournament during her freshman season before claiming ninth last fall as a sophomore.

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