Life is such a balancing act–and most fear the number of twists and turns it can take. However, for the girls on the EHS Gymnastics Team, this is simply the name of the game.

It will have been 11 months, three weeks, and four days since they finished off their last season against New Prairie and Westville high schools in January. But, the Lady Lions–with a score of 106.8–finished standing tall. Now, they are set to kick off a new season on Saturday, Dec. 27, with a competition at noon in the EHS gym against the following rivals:

• Angola High School 
• Plymouth High School 
• Westville High School 
• New Prairie High School 

As the team gets ready for a big tournament, each member sets her own goals. “We start practice off all together,” explains Senior Regan Iannarelli. “Then, after stretching, we spread out to different events so everyone gets a chance to work on what they need most!” 

Kymberly Rivera, a freshman at EFD, shares her goal. “I want to work on my skills and enhance them to better my performance and to make an impression on others and also encourage them.” Rivera understands that putting her best foot forward sends a message to others–not only on the score card but also in the locker room.

“As a team,” Iannarelli notes, “I think everyone has improved on their positive attitudes”–which, she asserts, could give them the edge they need to win their Dec. 27 competition. Explaining further, she adds, “I would say practice for us looks a little different than other sports. During practice,” she says, “there have been times where you get frustrated. But, the team has worked on maintaining a positive attitude even when things aren’t going the best.”

Rivera takes Iannarelli’s advice to heart, hoping to share it with incoming Freshman when she is a Senior. “A piece of advice that I would personally give someone who is wanting to come into gymnastics is to just do it! It is a wonderful experience!” Adding, she says, “Not only do you meet wonderful, fun people, but you get to see a new way of life and watch not only yourself grow but your team, as a whole!”

Those who are interested in watching these gymnasts perform over the Christmas break will need to get their tickets. Online tickets can be purchased https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=145447  for just $6.85 (which includes an 85-cent service fee). Attendees will need to show proof of purchase via their smart phones, so don’t forget to keep those handy when entering the event.