The Becker Bulldog girls gymnastics team heads into the 2018-19 season under new tutelage but still hope to continue the tradition of bringing high competition to the program under the previous regime.

 

Jen Harmoning, the legendary, long-serving head coach of Becker gymnastics could see the writing on the wall during last year’s initial campaign when she was quoted as saying, 

 

“I have thought about taking some time off from coaching but so far I haven't been able to go through with it. I know I wouldn't want to be away for good, but the time might come when I can just no longer give up being a part of my own kids' activities for it.  We'll see.”

 

Kalinowski says Jen’s resignation was not a surprise to her as the two had been having lots of conversations about the future of the program.

 

“We had many discussions during last season about it (resigning) and came to a solution that would allow Jen to still be a part of our gymnastics program but allow her to spend more time with her kids and be there for them at their sporting events,” said Kalinowski.  “Jen is still going to help out at our meets and run the score table so she won't be a stranger and we will still see her around!”

 

Kalinowski says receiving the honor of coaching such a prestigious program at BHS is a huge privilege. Kalinowski (nee McCall) was once a gymnast under Harmoning and she feels things have since come full circle.

 

“Being able to give back to a program that was such an amazing part of my life growing up makes it that much more rewarding.”

 

While Kalinowski’s team this year shows signs of youthfulness (just two seniors), she claims the team doesn’t lack in experience.

 

“We have an amazing youth competitive program that is run by Josh and Amy McDonald,” said Kalinowski. “They have trained many of these younger kids year-round for the last couple seasons.”

 

Kalinowski started her coaching career in community education gymnastics in eighth grade and she hasn’t stopped coaching since.  

 

“I had an amazing opportunity after high school and during college to go back to where my youth gymnastics days started and coach gymnastics at St. Cloud Tech High School,” she said. 

 

She continued to coach both Tech’s youth competitive teams as well as their high school teams for eight seasons, including many trips to the MSHSL AA state meet. She was also an assistant coach on their 2016 Class AA state championship team.  

 

“The coaches at St. Cloud Tech are, in my opinion, some of the best in the state and it was such an honor to be able to learn from them and now be able to bring that information back to Becker is such an amazing opportunity.”

 

Emi Quill and Katie Wilke were chosen as team captains and their roles  will be to help lead their team  in and out of the gym and represent Becker gymnastics to the highest standard they can.  

 

Kalinowski has two assistants under her in Sheena Meillier (second year) and newcomer Nicole Valento.

 

“We like to divide the coaching responsibilities as much as we can,” said Kalinowski. “I love to describe our team as our gymnastics family.  No one person is more important than another, and we all succeed and fail together, so we like to mix up the groups and have the JV, varsity and even C-Squad teams practice together.  This way every coach gets to work with every gymnast and there are no special groups.” 

 

Though the program will definitely miss their long-time coach in Jen Harmoning, Kalinowski feels as though her program has the potential to continue to represent Becker to the best of their abilities.

 

“Right now, our concern is just being the best gymnasts we can be and not worrying about what anyone else is doing,” she says.  “We know we have some amazing gymnastics teams in our section and we can't wait to show them what we can do come February.”

 

The varsity squad consists of: Keeley Holm, Theresa Johnson, Amelia Kirchner, Faith Madsen, Riley Norberg, Emi Quill, Katie Wilke, Lauren Woelfel and Sarah Woelfel.

 

“We should have a good mix of veterans and new-comers in our line-up and all of them bring their own unique gifts to the table.  It will be an exciting, competitive season.”