Garfield gymnastics is on the rise. With freshman stars such as Katie Rock, Hannah Atlas, and Tiara Fogle, and senior leaders Emily Golden, Heidi Rodenhizer and Diane Simunek, the team has a positive outlook for the upcoming season. Last year’s team was derailed by injuries and bad luck. This year, the team hopes that things will be different.

“I have very high hopes for the team this year. With the new freshmen adding much potential and skill, we are sure to do well,” says captain Simunek.

However, once again the fates have frowned upon Garfield gymnastics. New district regulations require that teams practice on spring floor, an expensive composite of materials, rather than wrestling mats (which were used at old Garfield). Initially the school indicated that it would pay for the new material, which costs $10,000. However, that money fell though the cracks, and the team is being forced to come up with the necessary funds itself.

Says Simunek, “It’s really frustrating when the school spends not only more money on the football team but the money that they promised us. We are furious with how Garfield has handled our situation.”

So far, the team has raised $6,000 through fundraisers, such as selling raffle tickets, but the season has already started.

In addition to the issue with the mats, all the team’s equipment, which was in storage while Garfield was at Lincoln, was flooded. This was also not known until immediately prior to the start of the season. All these factors have combined to force Garfield to hold practices at the Seattle Gymnastics Academy (SGA). Though it has excellent facilities, SGA is located in Northgate, far from the homes of many team members. Also, due to scheduling conflicts within the academy, the team is forced to hold practices from 7:25 to 9:30 in the evening, though Saturday practice is more flexible.

Despite these setbacks, the team itself is quite promising. Freshman Rock is a level eight gymnast (filthy). Fogle is a level nine (absolutely, positively nasty). For reference, ’08 graduate Misa Shikuma, a state competitor and a former star of the team, was a level eight. With any luck, the team will be able to compete in the KingCo meet as a team. Still, the team wonders when they will finally be able to come home to the doghouse.