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New surroundings benefit Vikings

JANESVILLE — Janesville Parker High School’s girls gymnastics program has a new home.

After suffering through years of overcrowding in a confined practice area and inadequate equipment, the Vikings have moved into a new Multi-Purpose Room.

And longtime coach Cathy Lehmann hopes the Vikings can flourish in their new surroundings.

“For the first time since I’ve been at Parker (1981), we have a full floor (exercise) to work out on and a ceiling that is high enough to do giants on.

“And we’re not sharing a room with the wrestlers, either. We have much more privacy and much more room to get things done. It has been great.”

Parker finished third a year ago in the Big Eight Conference and returns seven letter winners.

Heading the list is Erika Whitson. The junior became the first Parker gymnast to qualify for the state in the all-around a year ago, and she is the school record-holder in every event but the vault. Her school-record mark of 9.5 on floor exercise is particularly impressive, according to Lehmann.

“I think Erika is really going to step it up this year,” Lehmann said. “She’s added some different combinations, especially on floor exerecise.”

Whitson will compete in the all-around, along with junior Emily Mauermann.

“Both of those girls are very competitive,” Lehmann said of Whitson and Mauermann

“And both have made changes to their routines that, if they can execute them, should score very well.”

Lehmann admits that competition has been fierce for the remaining varsity spots.

Juniors Nicole Popovich and Stephanie Miller are in contention, along with sophomores Kristin Zeilinger, Meridith Little, Jenassa Kerl, Jenna Carr and Caroline Mitchell. Freshman Emily Richardson also is vying for a spot. Lehmann also hopes to get sophomore Maddie Seichter into the lineup at some point. Seichter is recovering from a broken arm.

“Right now, I’m hoping a couple of those girls step it up and distance themselves a little bit from everybody else,” Lehmann said. “I’ve got some good options with that group. I just don’t know right now what events they’re going to compete in.”

The Vikings begin the conference season tonight at Sun Prairie.

Although Lehmann believes her young team has an excellent chance to be competitive, she’s not worried about the opposition.

“The jury is still out on just exactly how we’re going to be,” Lehmann said. “I’m more worried about developing skills for our routines and working on different combinations.”