Moline gymnastics may be rebuilding,
but still best in Q-C

By Shannon Heaton, Staff sports writer

It's a rebuilding year for the Moline gymnastics team. At least from where coach Bob McDonald is sitting.

Meanwhile, Rock Island and Alleman's individuals survived the growing pains of any first-year program last season, and have expanded their numbers for this one. And Geneseo has a hard-working, if inexperienced, group preparing for the year ahead.

In other words, the local gymnastics scene consists of three programs in three different places. It is an unusual environment -- where everyone roots for everyone else and fights for recognition of all.

Take the Alleman and Rock Island girls, who are in their second year of competing as individuals, both under the combined direction of coach Brooke Jackson.

``(The girls) fight for their right to participate and are thrilled to represent their schools in a sport they love. They are responsible financially for their own equipment, apparel, training and travel,'' Jackson said.

Likewise, Geneseo is not a varsity-level sport, training out of the city's community center rather than J.D. Darnall High School.

Moline's group is still the area's top local team, though the loss of graduated Sarah Burgett and Meredith Ellis has left coach McDonald scrambling to fill varsity slots.

``It's kind of a rebuilding year for us. We're not going to score as well as we have in past seasons,'' McDonald said. ``We're just trying to work toward getting them very competitive for Chicago next year and having them do the best they can this year.''

Sophomore Brianne Jenkins, who was the individual all-around champion in Monday night's four-team meet in the Maroons' east gym, along with junior Jessica Lance and sophomore Marguerite Day, leads the Moline team this season.

Jenkins won the vault and balance beam events in Monday night's meet, while Lance won the bars and tied for first in the floor exercise. Expect senior Ronda Parker and freshmen Laura Burgett and Bianca Mendez to provide some additional depth.

Alleman and Rock Island -- as a combined effort -- return the most sectional qualifiers from last season, with Rock Island junior Meagan Ruthhart, Rocks sophomore Shelly Muskeyvalley and Alleman sophomore Betsy Mack all returning.

``We struggled with injuries on everyone's part (last year), but we are optimistic for a healthy season this year. We are training like we expect to make it to sectionals and go from there,'' Jackson said. ``Each school should have at least one athlete advance to the sectional meet.''

Mack was second and sophomore teammate Brianne Marriott was third in all-around competition Monday night. Junior Aimee Hardin from Rock Island and Alleman freshman Audrey Just have joined Jackson's group this year.

Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs may struggle in terms of all-around competition, but have shown some quality in individual events. Sophomore Lexie Neulieb posted a sparkling 9.2 score in the floor exercise, tying Moline's Lance for top honors in that event.

``We don't have a lot of experience, but the girls are very hard-working, and the most enthusiastic group we've ever had,'' Maple Leaf coach Chris Ward, along with husband and assistant coach Larry Ward, enters her ninth season with Geneseo after 18 seasons of running Sterling's gymnastics program. ``So practices have been really fun for us.''

Geneseo and the individuals from Rock Island and Alleman have been slotted into the Stevenson High School sectional meet in Lincolnshire, while Moline will travel to Oswego for the Oswego Sectional. Regional assignments will be posted later in the season.

Geneseo Maple Leafs

-- Coach: Chris Ward. Assistant: Larry Ward.

-- Last season: No qualifiers for sectional competition.

-- Roster (*returning letterwinner): Seniors -- *Colleen Marino, Kelsey Sellon; Juniors -- *Melissa Brummet, Claire Repass, *Leah Wake; Sophomores -- Lenley Ash, Nora Fortune, Audrey Frohling, *-Courtney Hancock, *Lexie Neulieb, Aubrey Thye, Mackalah Ward; Freshmen -- Kayla Balsar, Lindsey DeSmith, Brandi Marriott, Mara Wahlig.

-- Ward says: ``We've been just thrilled with this team, especially since we have a lot of kids who haven't competed before.''

Moline Maroons

-- Coach: Bob McDonald.

-- Last season: Two qualifiers for sectional competition; none return.

-- Roster (*returning letterwinner): Seniors -- Emily Chesling, *-Ronda Parker, Kellie Passini; Juniors -- Katie Bellmyer, Hanna Koenig, *Jessica Lance, Courtney Puebla, Suzanne Udehn, Christina Wolfe, *Stephanie Zelnio; Sophomores -- *Marguerite Day, Stephanie Dunn, *Brianne Jenkins, Erin Smith; Freshmen -- Laura Burgett, Emma Engstrom, Bianca Mendez, Courtney Miclke, Cassie Petoskey, Amanda Ridnour, Jane Wiborg, Amy Zerbonia.

-- McDonald says: ``We're certainly lacking depth this year. Right now, we're lucky to put four girls on a varsity event. It's always tough at the beginning of the year. The season goes quick, especially for beginning kids.''

Rock Island/Alleman

-- Coach: Brooke Jackson.

-- Last season: Three qualifiers for sectional competition; all three return.

-- Roster (*returning letterwinner): Juniors -- Aimee Hardin (RI), *Breanne Lonergan (RI), *-Meagan Ruthhart (RI); Sophomores -- *Betsy Mack (AHS), *Brianne Marriott (AHS), *Shelly Muskeyvalley (RI); Freshman -- Audrey Just (AHS).

-- Sectional qualifiers: Ruthhart, Mack, Muskeyvalley.

-- Jackson says: ``Last year was a lot of learning, with the rules and the way competitions are run, and we still managed to get some individuals advanced to the sectional meet. This year, we all feel the pressure to match what we did last year.''

Rock Island Argus
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