Mercer Island gymnastics | Winter sports previews

The Mercer Island gymnastics captains are Tonayo Crow, Monica Airut-Murphy and Emily Lightfoot. - Contributed photo
Contributed photo
The Mercer Island gymnastics captains are Tonayo Crow, Monica Airut-Murphy and Emily Lightfoot.

By MEGAN MANAGAN
Mercer Island Reporter Reporter
November 26, 2012 · Updated 10:58 AM 

Coach: Lenny Lewis

Number of athletes: 63

Last season: The Islanders finished second at the KingCo meet, fell to league rival Mount Si and finished fifth at the district meet, just short of qualifying as a team for the state meet. Four athletes competed at the state gymnastics meet in February.

Strengths: “We’re stronger than I thought we were going to be,” said head coach Lenny Lewis. “We lost several strong girls last year, and I didn’t know who was going to step up to take that place, but we have a couple girls. It looks like we’ll be able to put something together.”

Focus: “We’re super young — we only have two seniors,” said Lewis. “Pretty much, we’re getting into shape and looking at the girls and moving some into the second practice for varsity.”

Captains: Senior Monica Aruit-Murphy and juniors Emily Lightfoot and Tonayo Crow.

Meet to watch: “I want to see how we post up against Mount Si,” said Lewis. “I know they’re going to be strong again. Juanita is supposed to have a team for the first time in a couple of years.”

Contact Mercer Island Reporter Reporter Megan Managan at mmanagan@mi-reporter.com or (206) 232-1215 ext. 5054.

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