Part of the appeal of spectator sports is that we, as viewers, may at some point project ourselves into the action. In a perfect moment, we could hit a home run -- at least a single to right, toss in a three-pointer, or beat a goalie with a well-placed slap shot or kick.
But I can't visualize doing a somersault on that four-inch balance beam or a flip off the uneven parallel bars. Could you? It seems that it takes an uncommon amount of guts to be a gymnast.
You succeed or fail in front of teammates, family and friends. And like all sports, there are painful injuries.
A year ago in the season opener, sophomore Brooke Feichtinger blew out her knee on her first pass of the evening's first event. One of only two returning letterwinners on a team with already marginal prospects, she soared off the vault, executed a flip. Her landing was off, however, and an ACL popped.
It was an awful start to what would be a long season. Feichtinger, of course, missed the year, although she worked her way back to compete in diving this fall.
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Gymnastics coach Larry Selchow had to elevate junior varsity level gymnasts quickly to varsity level. Selchow's first season was 1995-96. This was his toughest.
"I felt Brooke's injury was my fault," he said. "I didn't tell her beforehand to bend her knees on a blind landing. 'Make sure your knees are bent,' I should have told her.' I don't know, maybe, it would have happened anyway. You can't be sure."
Willmar's scores sagged to the 110s, and at best the 120s. Seventh and eighth graders were pressed into varsity action before they were ready. The results were a far cry from the 140s of two years before and a record 149 in 1997.
How hard was it?
"I came about that far from resigning," said Selchow, holding his finger and thumb a quarter-inch apart. "I felt like I'd failed. Brooke's injury, the seniors who didn't come back, our scores dropping so far. I internalized everything."
The team scored a season-best 128 at Brainerd, took sixth in the Central Lakes Conference and eighth in Section 8AA, both all-time lows. But in gymnastics, what matters is not how many times you fall off the beam, but that you keep getting back on.
This season, things are brighter. Led by sophomore Annalise Bratt, the team has already scored 134. Bratt is a three-sport athlete who transferred from BOLD. She formerly competed for the Olivia club. Bethany Pollock and Laura Polman are solid. Pollock was CLC honorable mention last year; Polman was on the Willmar Wings club team. Captain Caylee Cash and Brooke Barrett are experienced performers. Selchow looks forward to getting former Wing Ashley Delp back from injury and having Kelly Mrzema full time now that she's done with driver's education.
"We've got the physical talent and the attitude to progress and get better," he said. "We're doing OK."
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The Cardinals will host Little Falls at about 7 p.m. today. Willmar will also be the host site for the CLC meet on Feb. 3.
On the fly
n Nordic coach Brad Haugen said the lack of snow makes it difficult to work on techniques and maintain interest in the emerging sport. Meet cancellations may be next. "So far, no meets have been cancelled, but I have a feeling it's coming," he said. "Over break, we went to Andes Tower and Elm Creek, which was fun and exciting just to be skiing. This week, we're on Swan Lake. We will be traveling to Giants Ridge Friday for the Mesabi Invite and, we hope, three days of skiing."
n After a three-way tie, Willmar won its own holiday hockey tournament on the second tiebreaker, goals for. "The tournament built our confidence," said coach Reed Larson. "It's been a while since Willmar has won a tournament at the varsity hockey level. Our defense and goaltending has come alive at the right time. It's been good the last few games."
n Here are the attendance figures for the three local holiday tournaments involving Willmar: boys hockey, 1,174 paid; Bremer Bank boys basketball, 1,508; Midwest Wireless/WildCard at New London, 958.
