With the fall sports season coming to a close, the gymnastics team is starting their 2025 season and preparing for upcoming competitions. Led by their coach, Kristen Fraser, the team is optimistic about the upcoming meets. Fraser emphasizes that the supportive and exciting environment between the gymnasts is what will set their team apart.

“I love this team because they are so supportive of each other at every level, no matter what,” Fraser said. “It is very exciting every time a girl learns a new skill in our gym.”

Evie Davauer, junior, has been on the gymnastics team for three years. She noted a positive aspect of the gymnastics team to be the way they encourage and support each other. 

“I really love how everyone encourages each other to do their best despite all of the different skill levels,” Davauer said. “Whenever I’m at meets I’m always so impressed by all the team cheering.”

The team expresses this support not only in practices, but in meets as well. 

At the beginning of the season, the team has meets every few weeks, but they increase in number as the season progresses. 

“We have meets from December through the beginning of March,” Fraser said. “Some are both JV and varsity [players] and some are just varsity, but the supportive and fun environment at the meets creates a really unique and wonderful environment.” 

Last season, the team qualified for state for the first time in 19 years. 

“[Making it to state] was an amazing experience that we hope to be able to repeat this season,” Fraser said.

There are four different events in gymnastics: bar, balance beam, vault and floor. Gymnastics requires the girls to have various kinds of skillsets. The team works constantly to improve each event.

“I have competed bars for all three years I have done gymnastics,” Davauer said. “Last year I started competing in the vault as well. At the practices I’m always working on either improving the routines I already have for these events or learning new skills.”

Caelin Henkhaus, junior, initially joined the gymnastic team for the experience of a high school sport team. 

“Throughout the past couple years of being on the team I’ve loved the friendships that had formed in the season and how fun it can be meeting new people in an enjoyable environment,” Henkhaus said.

Savannah Rauen, junior, joined the team when she was a freshman and has been a member ever since.

“There were flyers around the school and I was like, I don’t have a winter sport and I think this is something that would be really fun to do,” Rauen said. 

Rauen shared an appreciation for the team dynamic facilitated by Coach Fraser.

“It’s super fun, and I think that’s because our coach makes it fun,” Rauen said. “She gives us a lot to work on but she’s super nice and helpful.”

Although Rauen had to miss the second half of her first season, she was still able to have a fulfilling experience.

“Being able to come back my sophomore year and being able to work on all the things I had missed and work extra hard was rewarding,” Rauen said. “My tumbling has gotten better and that’s because of being able to bounce back from that past season.”

Rauen is looking forward to competitions and meets this upcoming season.

“I’m trying to step out of my comfort zone,” Rauen said. “There are a few things that I won’t try because I’m too afraid, though I’m trying to work to step outside of that mindset.”