Thomas Jefferson

High School | Home of the Spartans

TJ Gymnastics Springs Into Action

Posted 10/01/2008 by Matt Kleberger

The Lady Spartans look good through their first few meets.
by Matt Kleberger
photo by Kevin Fleming20080917121813_gym_small1.jpg     
    The Lady Spartans gymnastics team started the season off  with a loss to Ponderosa, with the score being 135-Ponderosa, to 66- TJ.

    However, on Thursday September 11, the squad had their first home meet of the season against the Littleton Lions. Junior Katie Dehmlow placed in every event in which she competed, placing 6th on the balance beam, 6th on the uneven bars, and 5th on vault. Alex Palmer, also a Spartan junior said, “We’re getting better all the time, we just need to keep improving like we have been.”

    Thursday night at TJ, the Spartans lost but by only a small margin of 19 points, but the Spartans’ 97 came up shore against the Lions’ 126. Sophomore Heather Zinc, also placed in all events in which she competed, scoring 5.55 on her floor exercise and 4.0 on the uneven bars.

    Saturday was another Spartan day for gymnastics, as the girls went to the Northglenn Norse Invitational. The ladies did fantastic scoring 70 point behind the efforts of gymnasts Jenelle Archuleta, Jesse Shuler, Sunny Vela, and Kendall Kippley. They finished the day in 7thplace.

    Head Coach Tim Hardy said, “Improvements are being made on the difficulty of the routines. More superior skill levels are also being made in the routine choreography."  Hardy went on to say, “We need to fill the roster on all events. Sickness and eligibility have slowed the amount of girls competing down, and next week will hopefully be a full roster.”

    On Thursday October 2nd the ladies will have their second and last home meet at TJ against the Commanders of John F. Kennedy High School. So come out and support the team at 6 pm in the gymnasium.