The 2008 Birmingham Unified Gymnastics team is prepared to flip over the competition in their upcoming season.
The team’s triumphant first meet boosted optimism for a successful season. After having a devastatingly close loss to Grosse Point last year, Birmingham Unified redeemed themselves on December 8th by winning the meet.
“The Grosse Pointe meet was really close. We knew that we should have won last year, so we really wanted to beat them this year,” said senior Anne Maddox.
Under head coach Allyson Pfeifer and assistant coach Rebecca Bajorek, the combined Groves and Seaholm gymnastics team are hopeful for a victorious year. By losing only one senior, Eryn Mickevicius from Groves, and gaining several new gymnasts, the close-knit team believes they are even stronger this year.
“I expect the team to do really well this year,” senior Karen Otzen said. Finishing with a 4-3 record and trips to leagues and regionals last season, the BU team is determined to do even better this year.
“I believe if we all stay healthy and limit the amount of injuries on the team, we have a big chance of making it to States,” said Groves senior, Anna Beaufore.
Beaufore, fellow Groves senior, Cara Baughman, and Seaholm senior, Casey Geraldo, compile the captains for the 2008- 2009 season. Newcomers to the BUG (Birmingham Unified Gymnastics) team have also shown a lot of potential.
“Stephanie and Alyx Muir are two new team additions this year and they look rather promising,” Baughman said. In addition to the Muirs, fellow Seaholm freshmen Tessa Raymond, Maddy Reem, and Kelly Frazier have boosted BUG’s optimism in having a successful season.
Though members are from both Groves and Seaholm, BUG is composed of only 15 girls. Many attribute this small size to the team’s triumphs.
“There is a great team unity among all the team members no matter whether they are freshmen or seniors,” Baughman said.
The next meet on December 18th against Troy High School is the next test of the Birmingham’s strength. It is at 6:30 p.m. at Troy High.
