By Jane Palen

Managing Editor

The CHS gymnastics team opens its season against Byron tomorrow night in Byron. This year, the team debuts with a new coach, Km Klopfer.

A student teacher with Dave Meyer in the middle school, Klopher brings a strong gymnastics background to her new job as head coach. She began participating in gymnastics at the club level at the age of 8, and was part of the Waukesha (Wisconsin) High School team that won two state titles. As a gymnast for UW-L, she helped the team bring home four national titles. She has coached gymanstics on several levels, but this is her first varsity coaching experience. She will be assisted by former head coach Paul Stevens.

In high school, Klopfer was an all-around gymnast. In her college carer, she participated mainly on the bars and vault.

There are currently 19 girls out for gymnastics, and eight are returning letter winners.

ìI think this group has a lot of potential,î said Klopfer. ìWe have strong girls and good leadership.î

With 19 girls, itís hard to give each individual attention, said Klopfer. While she has to have varsity as her main focus, she notices that the other gymnasts are motivated to work on their own, which is a big help.

ìThe young girls are so dedicated,î she commented.

The two strongest areas right now are the vault and floor exercise, said Klopfer. She said the bars are probably the weakest, ìBut the the bars are everyoneís weakness,î she added.

This yearís team includes Kambrea Mahr (Spring Grove), Clarissa Guillaume, Miranda Moen, Tara Klinski, Kaley Cross (Spring Grove), Allison Zard, Ally Sheehan, Andrea Mueller, Julie Halverson, Karly Misch, Melissa Wray, Courtney Schroeder, Emily Klug, Courtney Gran, Erica Myhre, Safiyyah Abdul-Alim, Katie Wiste, Kaytie Burrichter, and Samantha Wermager.

The first home meet will be against Stewartville on December 13. The competition begins at 6:30 p.m.

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