Mercer Island gymnasts ready for postseason

With the regular season wrapping up this week, members of the Mercer Island gymnastics team are focused ahead, looking toward the district meet during the first weekend of February.

One of the team’s goals earlier in the season was to make the district meet as a team, and currently only Liberty stands in its way, with scores close enough to make the goal a reality.

“We’re on track,” said head coach Lenny Lewis. “It’s a give and take, and if we keep improving, there’s the possibility.”

The head coach said as the team travels to Bothell this Thursday for the last regular season meet of the year, he wants the girls to be focused on their performances because if they perform well, then good scores will take care of themselves.

The Islanders played host to Olympic and Inglemoor last week, where Mercer Island finished third overall, missing many varsity gymnasts due to finals week.

“It wasn’t bad considering most of the varsity lineup was out for finals,” said Lewis. During the meet, senior Kristin Trimble did her first full bar routine, including her optional elements, something she will do again this week at the Bothell meet.

“It’s finally coming together,” said Lewis. “She’s finally getting most of it together and it’s really improving.”

So far this season, the Islanders are 3-3 in league meets, according to Lewis, but he said many of their opponents have been out of league schools, many of which are 4A.

Traveling to Bothell this week, Lewis said the girls are working on their floor routines, adding additional flips to their passes and working on being consistent in their bar routines. He said a team goal this week is to minimize falls, especially on the beam, as the team had as many as 15 during last week’s meet.

The team faces Bothell on Thursday at 7 p.m. and will then travel to the KingCo league 3A/4A meet on Saturday, Feb. 6, beginning at 9 a.m. at Mount Si High School.

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

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