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Q and A with Simley Gymnastics Coach Walsh

With a meet tonight, head coach Deana Walsh talks about her team.

 head gymnastics coach Deana Walsh answered some questions about her varsity team for Patch.

What is your varsity record?
We are 2-2 in the conference; fourth place at the Simley Invite and second place at the Mahtomedi Invite.
 
Talk about some of the athletes and their strengths and how they perform at meets.
Sarah Birkelo is our top all-around (athlete) because she has great skills and execution on her skills in all four areas. Sarah Kruse is another great all-arounder, and although she is only an eighth grader she excels in her performances for our team. Taylor Floyd is another all-arounder who is dynamic and strong. Megan Hooper is really proving herself on bars right now. Maggie Kadrlik and Emily Dittel are both strong gymnasts but they are injured and not at their best right now. 
 
Describe the team as a whole - what defines them?
The girls are extremely hard-working girls and they come into the gym and leave the gym with great attitudes, for the most part it is extremely rewarding working with not only a great team but fantastic achievers.
 
Can you describe the atmosphere and attitude of the team at practices and meets?
Practices are tough and the girls have to run and build strength at the beginning of each practice before stretching and then slow tumbling followed by cross tumbling. After that, the coaches decide on a workout for the remaining practice and what the requirement will be. For example, we might (tell the gymnasts to) do 10 competitive vaults, then sticky two beam routines, work on two swinging bars routines and then finish with two complete floor routines and one dance through. If the gymnast doesn't complete their requirement, she has to carry it over to the next practice and complete (that practice’s) work load. At the end of each practice we condition for 15 minutes. Practices are generally serious, but sometimes something funny happens and we have a "crack up" minute or two.
During meets we are relaxed and just tell the gymnasts to do their best. We know they try their hardest because we were all gymnasts and that much we totally understand. Both (assistant coaches) Becky (Steinberg) and Andrea (Young) were former gymnasts here at Simley when we qualified for state as a team. 

What's the age range for the team members?
Seventh through 12 graders.
 
Do you have a rival? Have you faced them yet? If yes, how did it go? If not, how are you guys preparing?
Not really, we just focus on beating our own personal best and attaining goals during meets, we especially like to beat our best score of the season.
 
What has been the season highlight so far?
Taking second place at the Mahtomedi Invite and scoring our season best of 120.7.

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