SMA gymnastics team hoping for another strong season
The St. Marys Area gymnastics team is on the smaller side this season, which will allow more time for each gymnast on the equipment, according to head coach Irene Holjencin.
This season marks Holjencin’s 22nd with the program. She began coaching in 2001.
“I’m excited to see how the girls can perform this season,” Holjencin said. “I’m anxious to see the girls actually perform. They are building off of their routines from last season.”
Holjencin noted that last season the team went 6-2 and had two individual state champions. Zoe Williamson was the silver division state champion on bars, and Adyson Azzato was the bronze division state champion on both bars and floor for the second year in a row.
“We had a very strong team last season,” Holjencin said.
Holjencin remarked that while the team did lose some talented gymnasts, they have 10 returning gymnasts who are able to fill all the team spots on all but one event.
“We are working on getting the last event (bars) filled, which is a tough one,” Holjencin said.
This year’s team will be led by five seniors: Lili Chmelar, a two-year letter winner who will compete on floor; Rachelle Fritz, a one-year letter winner who will compete on beam; Jianna Gerg, a one-year letter winner who will compete in the all around; Sydney Smith, a one-year letter winner who will compete on vault, beam, and floor; and Maddy Wittman, a three-year letter winner who will compete in the all around. The team’s four juniors are Lexi Asti, a two-year letter winner who will compete in the all around; Adyson Azzato, a two-year letter winners who will compete in the all around; Becca Gnan, a two-year letter winner who will compete on vault, beam, and floor; and Ava Villella, a two-year letter winner who will compete in the all around. The team’s lone sophomore is
Sara Regulski, who will compete on beam.
“I feel pretty good about this season’s team,” Holjencin said. “We are not quite as strong as we have been prior years, but I am still confident we should have a good season.”
Holjencin shared that the team is looking forward to competing and doing the best they can.
“I want to see each of the girls achieve their personal best,” Holjencin
said. “Sometimes it’s not all about winning (yes, it is nice and that is what you aim for) but being able to accomplish your biggest goals as simple as having a no fall beam routine or nailing a specific trick that has been haunting you or you were struggling to get. That is my most biggest joy of being a coach is watching one of your gymnasts or the team ac
complish something new and watching and seeing the expression on their faces. Then you know you’ve done your job as a coach – giving them the confidence and letting them know it’s okay that we are not perfect all the time. As long as they do their best, that’s all you can ask for. And if they don’t do their own personal best, knowing what they need to work on after a meet and trying to fix it, there is not much more you can ask for.”
As for her team’s biggest strengths, Holjencin remarked that she has a team who will help and build off of one another.
“They all support each other, and that is key,” Holjencin said. “The team unity is their biggest strength.”
Event wise, Holjencin anticipates that her squad will be strong on both vault and floor, though she noted they are also improving on beam.
“Everyone is pretty rusty coming back into the gym and not being on the equipment for almost seven to eight months,” Holjencin said. “These girls have to take a lot of constructive criticism with their routines/performances. This is an individualized sport working together as a team.
They don’t get help from another gymnast on an event. It’s all on them individually, and they are very level-headed in trying to perform their best for the team.”
In terms of competition, Holjencin expects Altoona to present the biggest challenge for her squad.
“Our biggest challenge is going to be going up against some very tough teams this season, especially Altoona,” Holjencin said. “No one in our league has been able to secure a win over them in years. They are extremely good, but they have a lot of club gymnasts that practice year round.”
Event wise, Holjencin indicated that bars will be a challenge for the members of her squad.
“We lost two very talented gymnasts on this event from last season, Zoe Williamson, who graduated, and Maria Radkowski, who moved out of the area,” Holjencin said. “We are working on getting a fifth gymnast on this event, but bar kids are not made overnight. It takes a lot of strength and skill, and skills on this event don’t always come easy.”
Assisting Holjencin this season is Kelly Snyder.