West Valley High School - Aurora Yearbook (Fairbanks, AK)

Page 166 text:

The West Valley gymnasts, with precision The gymnastic team consisted of Cathy Scott, Evelyn Miller, Kathy Mahler, Paige Wallace, Kirstin Gish, Coach Cheryl McKenzie, Natalia Naske, Missy Pippen, Mimi Lee, Gretchen Kind, Sharman Murphree, and Qinsetj Manager Bonnie Oliphant. WITH GRACE A D STYLE WEST ,,,, D GYMNASTS SCORED AT STATE jumping into her next tumbling run. and grace, proved once again that they were a force to be reckoned with in state gymnastics. Always striving for absolute perfection, the gymnasts tumbled their way to success with the help of a new coach, Cheryl McKenzie. Lead by co-captains Mimi Lee and Paige Wallace, West placed second in regional competition.This is quite a feat since the compulsory routines lstandardized routines which all gymnasts must completel increase in difficulty every four years after the Olympics. The local meets consisted of the three compulsory and three optional routines. After taking second at regionals, the team traveled to Bartlett High School in Anchorage to compete statewide. At State they met with great success as Gretchen Kind became All-Around Class lll Champion. The gymnasts took time to raise money for new uniforms b having a bake sale at the University Center and the annual With grace and precision Gretchen Kind executes a difficult back handspring on the beam. 162 GYMNASTICS This year's Cartwheel-A-Thon winner was freshman Gretchen Kind, otherwise known as Stretchen Gretchenf, She won with a count of 1,800 nonstop cartwheels. Even though this number sounds unbeatable it wasnft enough to break last year's record of 2,683 cartwheels set by senior Mimi Lee. The gymnasts strived for perfection, with the attitude of settling for nothing but the best, and in the eyes of West Valley they were the best.

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ront Row: Teresa LaJlness, Julyan Smith, Kim Cridge, Kiana Thompson, Amy Copeland, Heidi James. Middle Row: Angie Gamble, ana Anderson, Lori Nichols, Sherry Kailing, Cindy Waller, Debbie Mittemiller. Back Row: Callie Thompson, Cathy Mobratten, Lynn ohnson, Valerie Tweedie, Linda Keirn, Shelly Springer, Amy Hard. . sas The Drill Team was a new after school , club that provided yet another opportunity for student involvement at West Valley. HE M The idea was put into action by Lori Nichols, who took it to Mrs. Byington, the team's eventual advisor. Babe Wiggener, a EW H professional dance instructor, was f recruited as the choreographer. Because it T was modern dance, the drill team could have been considered a sport. It was hard work for the girls as they soon found out. Tryouts were held in the fall. The 20 girls that were selected carefully planned the routines that they would perform during halftime at home basketball games. The girls were drilled by Mrs. Wiggener until they could perform flawlessly. All who saw them perform were greatly impressed. Their attractive faces and lithe figures were easy for anyone to watch and appreciate. The Drill Team was not a new idea at West, but because people like Lori Nichols got behind the idea, it became a huge success and promises an even larger turnout in future years. ff' J K My ,f .f .4 , ntlclpation of halftime activities, drill West's red and gold high steppers swing to llllll n members line up in formation. the beat, as they follow their routine. DRILL TEAM 161

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A- wi Stretchen Gretchen Kind puts a little stretch into her floor routine. Sew- Sept, 24 Oct, Oc. Oc. Nov. Dec. KAN meets against A Lathrop' andgpr North WVHS V HS QP 11 RegnQgalst,1-QQ: m H VWVHS Higtate wvus I1 GYMNASTICS 1 M znd U 2nd 8 2 d Oct. 14 2' d t 24 2 d r 31 2nd 7 2 d 21 2 d S 5 8th Relaxing after a tough practice, gymnasts Z Evelyn Miller, Cathy Scott, Mimi Lee, and Sharman Murphree discuss their routines. GYMNASTICS 163