Grizzlies have strength in numbers
Gymnastics program has its numbers up, expectations follow
Wadsworth’s gymnastics team is competing in two leagues again this year, and has increased numbers to do so. Photo by GLEN RUTHERFORD/Glen Rutherford Photography
One thing Wadsworth gymnastics coach Rachel Urbanic is not going to have to worry about this winter is depth. The Grizzlies have 16 athletes on the roster, up two from a year ago.
The team features three seniors – Kayla Bard, Kensi Cleckner and Ellie Marrin – and a pair of juniors in Hanna Daulbaugh and Megan Tyler. The rest provide Urbanic with a giant lump of clay to mold and shape over the next couple years.
Daulbaugh is Wadsworth’s standout. Last year she missed making it to the state meet in the floor exercise by one place. Sophomore Bella Thompson was the team’s other district qualifier. She advanced in the floor exercise.
Urbanic is patiently waiting for Daulbaugh to return from a torn tendon incurred on Dec. 12 in a meet against Cloverleaf. She could be back for the team’s Jan. 26 meet against Wooster.
“She is a huge asset to our team, always the top all-around scorer, and her score always counts for each event at each meet,” Urbanic said. “In the (Northeast Gymnastics Conference) she was first-team on vault, bars, beam, floor, and the all-around, which is a big accomplishment to be first team on all the events. In the Suburban League she was second team.”
The Grizzlies last year got to compete in their own conference, with the Suburban League fielding enough league teams. They continued in the NEGC.
Much is also expected of Thompson, whom Urbanic said is still working to upgrade her skills, which will lead to high scores.
“She is a wonderful asset to our team,” the coach said. “Last year in the NEGC she was second-team on beam and floor, and she received an honorable mention in the Suburban League. I expect great things from her, and she just keeps getting better and better as she learns the high school rules more.”
Urbanic said Thompson is battling a knee injury that hampers her on landings but added the youngster plays through the pain.
One to watch will be freshman Caitlyn McDougal, who won the all-around at her first varsity meet, in which she won the bars and was in the top three in 3-of-4 disciplines.
“She is constantly trying to learn new skills to figure out how she can get more bonus (points) to increase her start values,” Urbanic said, adding that McDougal is dealing with ankle issues. “She has never complained once about not being able to get through a practice, or compete. She pushes through the pain and always is asking for more to do.”
Another freshman, Emma Spoerke has shown potential early as well, placing top-three in multiple disciplines at meets this season. Grizzly assistant Aubrey Durkey dubbed Spoerke the “Dark Horse” based on her sudden improvement.
“She has learned so much since we started in November, and every day she asks for new things to do that will help her be a better gymnast,” Urbanic said. “I expect great things from her.”
Wadsworth’s other freshman, Jamie Vaughn, also drew praise from the head coach for her quick improvement.
“Jaime is also one that has increased her skill level since she started with us in November,” Urbanic said. “She has added a ton to bars, beam, and floor, especially. The high school rules are very complex and can therefore be confusing, so she is also getting to know the ropes of how the rules work in the high school program. As a freshman, coming into a program like this is not easy, and she has done a stupendous job of adapting, and she will continue to grow and learn.”
The rest of the squad consists of seniors Kayla Bard, Kensi Cleckner and Ellie Marrin; junior Megan Tyler; and sophomores: Mackenzie Cruz, Leah Ferry, Jenna Scaffidi, Alivia Tavanello, Kira Tavanello, Abby Winkler and Alexis Wyatt.
The Grizzlies headed into the week unbeaten in the NEGC and will compete in conference meets in both that league and the Suburban League, which is a different animal. Perennial state champ Brecksville rules the roost in the SL, which also features a very strong Hudson team.
The Grizzlies have a Jan. 26 meet at Wooster before heading on Feb. 4 to Brecksville for the SL tournament. The postseason begins on Feb. 19 at the West Geauga Sectional.
“I think we can certainly do well at sectionals,” Urbanic said. “We just need Hannah back to do so, as she is a high-scoring, high-level gymnast. Her scores, combined with Bella, Emma, Caitlyn, and Jaime, we have a chance of possibly making it out of sectionals, and hopefully even have some individual qualifiers.
Making Urbanic’s job a bit easier, her troops are confident but have realistic goals and expectations.
“Once we go to the bigger meets, such as the Suburban League and sectionals, they will see the skill level there that is what we are aiming for,” Urbanic said. “Usually that kicks them into gear. This typically makes them want to be better gymnasts, and really make an effort to stay on equipment, give 110 percent, and set their goals higher. I think once we reach that point, that will be the best we’ll be all year. We aren’t asking for 10s on events, we just want clean, polished and confident routines.”
The team features three seniors – Kayla Bard, Kensi Cleckner and Ellie Marrin – and a pair of juniors in Hanna Daulbaugh and Megan Tyler. The rest provide Urbanic with a giant lump of clay to mold and shape over the next couple years.
Daulbaugh is Wadsworth’s standout. Last year she missed making it to the state meet in the floor exercise by one place. Sophomore Bella Thompson was the team’s other district qualifier. She advanced in the floor exercise.
Urbanic is patiently waiting for Daulbaugh to return from a torn tendon incurred on Dec. 12 in a meet against Cloverleaf. She could be back for the team’s Jan. 26 meet against Wooster.
“She is a huge asset to our team, always the top all-around scorer, and her score always counts for each event at each meet,” Urbanic said. “In the (Northeast Gymnastics Conference) she was first-team on vault, bars, beam, floor, and the all-around, which is a big accomplishment to be first team on all the events. In the Suburban League she was second team.”
The Grizzlies last year got to compete in their own conference, with the Suburban League fielding enough league teams. They continued in the NEGC.
Much is also expected of Thompson, whom Urbanic said is still working to upgrade her skills, which will lead to high scores.
“She is a wonderful asset to our team,” the coach said. “Last year in the NEGC she was second-team on beam and floor, and she received an honorable mention in the Suburban League. I expect great things from her, and she just keeps getting better and better as she learns the high school rules more.”
Urbanic said Thompson is battling a knee injury that hampers her on landings but added the youngster plays through the pain.
One to watch will be freshman Caitlyn McDougal, who won the all-around at her first varsity meet, in which she won the bars and was in the top three in 3-of-4 disciplines.
“She is constantly trying to learn new skills to figure out how she can get more bonus (points) to increase her start values,” Urbanic said, adding that McDougal is dealing with ankle issues. “She has never complained once about not being able to get through a practice, or compete. She pushes through the pain and always is asking for more to do.”
Another freshman, Emma Spoerke has shown potential early as well, placing top-three in multiple disciplines at meets this season. Grizzly assistant Aubrey Durkey dubbed Spoerke the “Dark Horse” based on her sudden improvement.
“She has learned so much since we started in November, and every day she asks for new things to do that will help her be a better gymnast,” Urbanic said. “I expect great things from her.”
Wadsworth’s other freshman, Jamie Vaughn, also drew praise from the head coach for her quick improvement.
“Jaime is also one that has increased her skill level since she started with us in November,” Urbanic said. “She has added a ton to bars, beam, and floor, especially. The high school rules are very complex and can therefore be confusing, so she is also getting to know the ropes of how the rules work in the high school program. As a freshman, coming into a program like this is not easy, and she has done a stupendous job of adapting, and she will continue to grow and learn.”
The rest of the squad consists of seniors Kayla Bard, Kensi Cleckner and Ellie Marrin; junior Megan Tyler; and sophomores: Mackenzie Cruz, Leah Ferry, Jenna Scaffidi, Alivia Tavanello, Kira Tavanello, Abby Winkler and Alexis Wyatt.
The Grizzlies headed into the week unbeaten in the NEGC and will compete in conference meets in both that league and the Suburban League, which is a different animal. Perennial state champ Brecksville rules the roost in the SL, which also features a very strong Hudson team.
The Grizzlies have a Jan. 26 meet at Wooster before heading on Feb. 4 to Brecksville for the SL tournament. The postseason begins on Feb. 19 at the West Geauga Sectional.
“I think we can certainly do well at sectionals,” Urbanic said. “We just need Hannah back to do so, as she is a high-scoring, high-level gymnast. Her scores, combined with Bella, Emma, Caitlyn, and Jaime, we have a chance of possibly making it out of sectionals, and hopefully even have some individual qualifiers.
Making Urbanic’s job a bit easier, her troops are confident but have realistic goals and expectations.
“Once we go to the bigger meets, such as the Suburban League and sectionals, they will see the skill level there that is what we are aiming for,” Urbanic said. “Usually that kicks them into gear. This typically makes them want to be better gymnasts, and really make an effort to stay on equipment, give 110 percent, and set their goals higher. I think once we reach that point, that will be the best we’ll be all year. We aren’t asking for 10s on events, we just want clean, polished and confident routines.”