The Britton-Hecla gymnastics squad is coming off back-to-back fourth place state finishes the past two seasons and will begin its quest to make some noise on the state front again this year by hosting Sisseton for the 2025-26 varsity and junior varsity opener on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
Coach Angela Grupe’s squad will also host a home meet on Tuesday, Dec. 16, and will host the regional competition on Feb. 5.
With seven letterwinners back, six of them state qualifiers a year ago, the Lady Braves have plenty of reasons for optimism, but the injury bug has struck the team before the season has begun.
Two of those state qualifiers – senior Abby Lee and sophomore Jaelee Grupe – are dealing with back injuries that leave the local gymnasts with some question marks since both competed at state in vault, bars, beam, floor exercise, and all-around. Lee was injured during the middle of the volleyball season and is questionable for the season with hopes of being able to compete the second half of the year. Grupe hurt her back while practicing her bar routine during preseason workouts and is hoping to be able to return in the near future.
Other returning state qualifiers include seniors Ava Teveldal (vault, beam, floor) and Taryn Kraft (beam), junior Brynlee Schmieg (vault, bars), and sophomore Kennady Van Lith (bars, floor). Junior Marley Sundin is also a returning letterwinner.
Grupe said that varsity competitors in the season opener had not yet been determined as of Tuesday. A total of 18 gymnasts are on this year’s roster with nine in grades 9-12 and nine in grades 6-8. McKenna Heer was the only senior that graduated from last year’s team. Assisting Grupe this season are Assistant Coach Sterling Mertens and volunteer assistant Kelsi Heer.
“We only graduated one but we didn’t necessarily re-load,” said Grupe. “We have a lot of talent in the junior high but don’t quite have the experience yet, plus dealing with the injuries.
“We’re just going to have to keep chugging along and get people healthy to where we can compete. But in gymnastics you don’t have to worry about getting a certain seeding and team-wise it doesn’t really matter until the last meet. We just have to remember what our goal is, and that is going back to state as a team and hopefully we can get everyone state-qualified in some event.”
Grupe stressed that gymnastics is a difficult sport to just pick up where you left off a year ago because there are not many opportunities to practice or compete in the offseason. But she has been pleased with what she has seen since practices began a month ago.
“Our returning letterwinners really did walk in that first week and do the majority of what they ended the season with,” noted Grupe. “I am pleased with where we are starting with the girls that already have the experience.”
Grupe points to balance beam as a real strength for her squad this season.
“We have some really strong beamers returning that have lots of experience and drive to want to do well. Of all the events balance beam is sort of the one where you really have to be mentally tough. I also think we will have some good vaults, our floor exercise needs to develop a little more, and bars is typically our weakest event.”
