Lanny Goldsmith has taken over the head coaching duties of the Big Lake Hornet gymnastics team following a step down from long-time coach Nikki Dilbert Collison after the 2020-21 season.

Dilbert Collison will remain with the team, only as an assistant to Goldsmith. Other assistants under Goldsmith will be Kris Kitzman and Kacey Skarhus.

The Hornets have 24 girls on the roster which includes: seventh-grader Addison Doring, seventh-grader Ciarra Kohnen, seventh-grader Eva Johnson, seventh-grader Lindsey Shoop, ninth-grader Allie Goracke, ninth-grader Allie Lu, ninth-grader Ava Eastman, ninth-grader Kaelyn Dietz, 10th-grader Amber Grunewald, 10th-grader Ava Heinen, 10th-grader Lola Visci, 10th-grader Sam Merten, 10th-grader Tia Neadeau, 11th-grader Autumn Grunewald, 11th-grader Breanna Ziembo, 11th-grader Britney Krumrei, 11th-grader Katie Goracke, 11th-grader Grace McCrone, 12th-grader Anna Jockson, 12th-grader Claire John, 12th-grader Grace Gardne, 12th-grader Hannah Horvath, 12th-grader Kennadie Ell and 12th-grader Taylor Schreifels.

Captains for the 2021-22 season are: John, Horvath and Ell. Britney Krumrei, Lola Visci and Autumn Grunewald were named team leaders.

“These girls are the leaders on our team and set the tone for the group not only in meets but every day in practice,” said Goldsmith. “Several have competed as individuals and for our team the last two seasons at the state meet.”

As most know, the sport of gymnastics is not only a challenge physically, but mentally as well. Gymnastics is a sport with no off-season, involving flexibility, stamina, and grace. There are no protective helmets or pads. It’s just the gymnast, one’s leotard, and the routine one is  competing in.

“Gymnastics is a tough sport mentally and physically,” said Goldsmith. “Staying healthy is always the biggest challenge throughout the long season but so far our injuries are only minor ones.”

Four routines are the challenges the gymnasts face. Bars, beam, floor and vault are individually scored on each event on a 10.0 scale, 10 being that no mistakes were made. Each gymnast fights for first place in their individual events. The scores from each event will be added together, determining an “all-around” winner. However, gymnastics is still a team sport because the top scores from each team are added together, and the team with the highest score wins.

“I think our floor and vault will be our two highest scoring events,” said Goldsmith. “We have the talent to be a great team on beam and bars as well. Time will tell (how we do) I guess.”

Big Lake gymnastics finished seventh at state last year after winning the state title in 2020.