Loveland – Hannah Bower had big shoes to fill in 2005, including the shoes of transition.
As a freshman, Bower became the third Loveland all-around champion in three years, and if form holds true, that crown may not leave the Sweetheart City until 2010.
“I do want to keep my title, but more so I just want to have fun,” Bower said. “This year, I don’t have to live up to something, I just want to keep up the standards I’ve already set.”
Said Indians coach Wendy Thompson: “She wanted to follow in the footsteps of Paige (Schuster, the 2004 all-around champion) and Nicole (Poling, the 2003 champion). I’m a little surprised it happened so early, but when you understand the competitiveness she has, then it makes perfect sense.”
It’s hard to see how Bower, who became Loveland’s fifth all-around Class 5A champion since 1997 (Kim Browton in 1997 and Darin Johnson in 2000), can improve on last year’s dominating state performance. In addition to all-around, she won on the floor, balance beam and vault. Overland’s Cynthia Omega prevented a sweep, winning the uneven bars by 0.025 points.
The Indians, with Tiffany Stoddard on a senior-laden squad, not only could improve on last year’s seventh place finish, but challenge champion Rocky Mountain.
“We have some new girls in here with a lot of experience, and that is one of our huge goals,” Bower said.
Rocky Mountain, with seniors Kelsy Allington and Hannah Kyle and sophomore Jaia Sattler, remains tough. So is Green Mountain, where coach Sandy Patterson returns her entire squad. Sophomores Alie Bowen and Kelly Stone finished 3-4 in the all-around a season ago, and are joined by Jaime Camacho, Jonna Vick and Taelore Fehr.
“Our bigger goal is to hit consistently with no falls and whatever happens score-wise happens,” Patterson said.
Arvada West, Bear Creek, Overland, Fort Collins, Broomfield and Ponderosa are among the contenders.
In 4A, all eyes will be on Pueblo Central’s Tera Sisson, who captured the all-around crown as a freshman.
“She has a lot of new skills,” said Central coach Kelly Downs, whose prize pupil went to regionals and earned an alternate spot on the Western team.
Central also features Tera’s older sister Ashley, sophomore Alexa MacDonald and junior Trista Bitterlich. Throw in three more talented freshmen and the Wildcats, a second-place finisher at state last season, might have what it takes to finally end Sterling’s four-year stranglehold on the crown. Others primed for a top-five finish are Evergreen, Cañon City, Alamosa, Summit and Buena Vista.
Jon E. Yunt can be reached at 303-954-1354 or jyunt@denverpost.com.
Gymnastics
Class 5A
1. Loveland; 2. Green Mountain; 3. Rocky Mountain; 4. Overland; 5. Broomfield
Class 4A
1. Sterling; 2. Pueblo Central; 3. Evergreen; 4. Summit; 5. Cañon City
Gymnasts to watch
Kelsy Allington, Rocky Mtn., Sr.; Lauren Biegler, Summit, Sr.; Alie Bowen, Green Mtn., So.; Hannah Bower, Loveland, So.; Megan Clemens, Broomfield, Jr.; Erin Glover, Arvada West, So.; Delainey Hawk, Ponderosa, Jr.; Gentry Knaub, Thompson Valley, Jr.; Hannah Kyle, Rocky Mtn., Sr.; Bethel Lindsley, Evergreen, So.; Cynthia Omega, Overland (Smoky Hill), Sr.; Ashley Roush, Arvada West, Sr.; Jaia Sattler, Rocky Mtn., So.; Jaime Scheck, Sterling, Sr.; Tera Sisson, Pueblo Central, So.; Kelly Stone, Green Mtn, So.; Elizabeth Stover, Niwot, Jr.; Elizabeth Yovich, Ponderosa, Jr.
