BISMARCK -- The Dickinson High gymnastics team marked a notch in its school's history book Friday night at the Bismarck Century gymnasium.
The Midgets took the 2007 state gymnastics team championship, an accomplishment that hasn't been achieved by a Dickinson team since 1988.
"It's so awesome," senior captain Mara VanElls said. "I'm so happy. We had a really good day. On floor, they (Minot) beat us last week and I think we were about equal tonight."
The Midgets had a team total of 145.238. Minot took second with a score of 143.750.
The Midgets opened the meet on the balance beam, which was their strongest event last weekend at the Western Dakota Association meet. Friday, they were shaky, but fortunately, not shaken.
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"We had a couple falls on the beam this time," Midgets coach Kent VanElls said. "I was a little concerned at that time, but nobody gave up."
The team consisted of Mara VanElls, junior Jennifer Bachamp, sophomore Marie Franzen, freshman Melissa Bachamp and eighth graders Brogan Burwick and Kelsey Dukart. Burwick and Dukart both unofficially scored more than 37 points, although individual results weren't released.
Kent VanElls attributed Dickinson's success to the depth the team has shown all season. It came out again Friday.
"It continues to be that we've got so many girls doing so good," Kent VanElls said.
Tomorrow, junior Lexi Stickel and freshman Brooke Sickler will join their teammates for the individual competition.
"Tomorrow is completely different," Kent VanElls said. "As a matter of fact, we let the girls make some decisions on individual day."
The gymnasts will be permitted to attempt more difficult routines on individual day.
"In the team meet, the team aspect is so important," Kent VanElls said. "We need them to do routines they can do solidly. But tomorrow, they can do some things they've been working on and they want to try."
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The Midgets' success this season caps a great stride, not only the team as a whole, but also the gymnasts themselves.
"Half of this team didn't even qualify last year" Kent VanElls said. "It's so special to see the change that they've gone through from placing in the lower rankings last season to qualifying in every event. To go through those two extremes in two years is really something."
