DHS eyes sixth-straight state title
Feb. 26—After another successful season of competition, the Dickinson High gymnastics team has put itself in position to be a strong candidate in the upcoming state competition. For Casey Berry, this is her first state meet as the head coach of the Midgets.
Despite first time jitters and stronger competition than previous years, Berry is highly confident in the team's chances of earning its sixth-straight team title on Friday.
"We're feeling pretty good. If the girls do their job I think it's going to be a fun meet," Berry said. "I think it's going to be close, but we are feeling good. It seems like Jamestown, Valley City and potentially Bismarck Legacy may be in it as well, I think we're kind of expecting a race between those four teams I suppose."
Despite there being some nerves leading up to the competition, Betty does not believe it has more to do with it just being the state meet and not because of the team going for its sixth straight title.
"Last year when I was the assistant coach and we were going for five it just seemed like a big deal, but this year, since I took over a new position, it kind of feels like I'm starting fresh so for," she said. "Especially with the six in a row, it's quite as nerve wracking as just the state tournament in general for me."
The Midgets are coming off hosting the WDA in which the Midgets pulled out a narrow team victory of 145.500, just defeating Jamestown which scored 144.125 and Bismarck Legacy coming in third with a score of 141.700.
Fortunately, Berry says the team is returning ninth-grader Addison Fitterer and seventh-grader Aspen Roadarmel to the team's lineup. Both athletes were unable to compete in the WDA due to injuries.
The Midgets currently lead the board in all areas with sophomore Amy Fridley being ranked first in floor, vault, bars and the all-around, Fitterer is currently ranked first in the beam. In the all-around, the team will also be the only team to feature any seventh-graders in Roadarmel, Brooke Dolyniuk, and Brooklyn Wariner.
Along with helping lead her team in the team competition on Friday, Fridley will be looking to take the individual state champion in the all-around on Saturday. The sophomore has had a stellar breakout season leading up to the tournament but it will not be a shoe-in for her to be placed at first.
Fridley placed first in the all-around at the WDA with a score of 37.475 followed by Jamestown gymnast Haley Nelson who scored a 37.250. Midgets' Brooklyn Deguzman placed third with 36.250 and Rylee Olson placed fourth with 36.150.
"Amy is looking great this year," Berry said. "he is ranked number one floor, vault, bars and the all-around currently, if she is also able to hit she should be in pretty good shape ... She needs to hit her events, do her job and really just stay on the beam would be a good one for her to focus on."
With the state meet bringing some interesting possibilities and scenarios into the mix this season, she is excited to see how it all plays out throughout the weekend.
"I'm just looking forward to watching them compete," she said. "Especially on team night, it really is so fun. And that last event when they get to go to floor and we'll meet Jamestown on floor at the last event and it's just always fun because there's lots of energy. Lots of excitement and the girls know that this is kind of it, this is the last chance to floor is always a fun one on team night too."
The team event is scheduled to begin on Friday at 3 p.m. MST with the individual competitions scheduled for Saturday.
