Carrie Hanson will be making her fifth straight appearance at the State Gymnastics Meet with mixed emotions today.
"It's a little sad because it's my last meet in high school maybe forever," said Hanson, a Benson senior. "But I'm also pretty excited. And my sister (Michele) is going, too, so that's makes it more special."
Michele, a sophomore, qualified individually on vault.
The team portion of the state tournament was held Friday and the individual portion is today at Roy Wilkins Auditorium at RiverCentre in St. Paul.
Carrie may not be able to compete in all her events, however, after hyperextending her right knee during her vault competition at the section meet last weekend in Morris.
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"It's pretty sore," said Hanson on Wednesday. "So I'm not sure how much I can do. I'll have to see how it is (today). I hyperextended my left knee at sections last year, but I was able to compete.
Hanson has qualified in all-around, plus uneven bars, vault and balance beam, this season. She placed eighth all-around at state last year and was 11th on vault.
"I wanted to finish in the top top six this time," said Hanson. "But now I'm not sure if I'll be able to or not."
Hanson's favorite event is bars and she's qualified for state five straight years on that event.
Hanson has ambitions of being a dental hygienest and is looking at going to either Minnesota State, Mankato or North Dakota State College of Science, neither of which offers gymnastics.
"I would probably compete in college is they offered it," said Hanson. "I've been in gymnasics since I was in kindergarten. I'll really miss it a lot."
Hanson also qualified for state in track and field as a member of the Benson/KMS 4 x 400 relay team that placed fifth in Class A.
NOTES: Paynesville senior Kacy Nehowig is making her second state gymnastics trip and seventh state trip in all. She also qualified three times in cross country and twice in track and field.
