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Craig gymnasts anxious to get going

JANESVILLE — The high school girls gymnastics season gets under way Saturday for Janesville Craig.

And with two state qualifiers returning, along with a talented freshman class, Craig High coach Jean Welch is optimistic.

"We have some depth in virtually every event, and a good mix of kids that are working hard," Welch said. ""I don't know where we'll end up, but I'm excited, and I think the girls are, too, about getting started."

The Cougars open the season by hosting the Craig Invitational. Janesville Parker, Milton, Elkhorn and Whitewater are among the eight teams expected to compete.

Leading the Cougars are junior Sara Ennocenti and sophomore Becky Schneider. Ennocenti broke her arm last season, and despite battling through the injury the entire season, finished 11th at state in Division 1 on vault.

"Sara was really limited as to what she could do last year, so I'm eager to see how she does this year competing in the all-around," Welch said. "She's looked really good in practice, and I think a lot of that has to do with being healthy again, and not being restricted on what she can do."

Schneider qualified for state on the balance beam and finished tied for 13th. She also won the event at the Big Eight meet.

"Becky continues to improve, and has really added some tough moves to her routines," Welch said. "She has set some pretty high goals, and I think she's got a great chance of achieving them."

Junio Sam Glowacki, and sophomores Alli Lucas and Nikki Glowacki are also expected to be big contributors.

Sam Glowacki will compete on floor exercise and balance beam, while her younger sister, Nikki, is slated for the balance beam. Lucas will compete on vault and uneven bars.

"Our best events are probably going to be vault and floor," Welch said. "The beam is always tough because one fall can really hurt your score, and the uneven bars is probably our weakest event because we don't have as much depth there."

Freshmen Ashley Pohlman and Ashley McGoey are talented, according to Welch, and will both compete in the all-around.

Middleton is the defending conference dual meet champion, while Craig finished second.

Welch, now in her 21st season, said staying injury-free and being consistent on each apparatus will be the key for the Cougars.

"I try to tell the kids what I think they can accomplish, but a lot of times it's got to be done on their own," Welch said.

"You don't want to push them too hard, especially mentally, because that's when kids tend to get hurt and frustrated."

Craig's schedule:

DECEMBER: 12—Craig Invitational (Janesville Parker, Elkhorn, Milton, Kenosha co-op, Westosha Central, Mount Horeb and Whitewater), 11 a.m.; 17—At Middleton, 7 p.m.

JANUARY: 7—Sun Prairie, 7 p.m.; 9—At Westosha Central, 10 a.m.; 14—At Madison West, 7 p.m.; 16—At Madison East, 11 a.m.; 25—Verona, 7 p.m.; 27—At Janesville Parker, 7 p.m.

FEBRUARY: 3—Madison Memorial, 7 p.m.; 9—Madison La Follette/East, 7 p.m.; 13—At Mukwonago Invitational, 10 a.m.; 20—At Big Eight Conference Meet (Madison Memorial), 7 p.m.