OCR Text |
Show r i i CLfcARHLLD COURIER, May 30, 1979 Page 9 Sucess story radiates from Clearfield Highs Region One gymnastics championship team By Keith Duifihui (This article in the first of a three-pa- rt story of the climb and eventual success of Clearfields Region One in state gymnastics and third-plac- e team. The story is that of success, hard work, an people who care about other people.) Almost anywhere you go nowadays in Clearfiled, youll usually find younger boys and girls, mostly girls, tteetering on a b alance beam, displaying awkward but promising techniques on floor mats, or some other type of gymnastic skill. The excitementis spreading, but where did it all begin. Somehow the gymnastics fever that has caught hold of the city of Clearfield, Sunset and other communities had to have started somewhere. When little girls win awards in teh communtiy! they are asked about past achievements and awards theyve earned. Little hesitation is mustered when they tell the one interviewing that they were members of a recent gymnastic hampiosic championship team. The climb to success by the Clearfield High gymnastic team this past season did nothing but firmly mold the gymnastics tradition at the school and around the community. The girls, led by Coach Sydney Conley and Paul Quigley, never knew defeat as a team until they reached the state finals. Even there the defeat was not really defeat as the team claimed third place overall, the highest finish ever by a Clearfield team in a state gymnastic meet. Clearfield marched throug h every duel meet, putting on a show that dazzled home and visining crowds alike. If it wasnt the young sophomore, Sarah Leonard, then either Sherri Stevens, Lori Johnson or someone else had the crowds attention. Members of the Clearfield High gymnastic squad that claimed th 1979 Region One championship were Jan Dahle, Sandy Hampton, Linda Owens, Teresa Poulsen, Sheri Stevens, Bev Wood, Sally Yamada, Dawn Beers, Lisa Christensen, Meichelle Hartline, Lori Johnson, Tanna Taylor, Robin Clements, Joyce Davies, Sarah Leonard, and Arlene Tovar. To be continued next week. One champion gymnastics team from Clearfield High School. The Falcons later went on to place third in the state meet in Salt Lake City. MEMBERS OF THE 1979 Region Region I gymnastics champions SARAH LEONARD is clearly one of the top gymnasts in the region. Redda reports success I.ast season, the Seattle Smashers SANDY HAMPTON chalks up points for Clearfield. won for the second time on June 20 after dropping seven of their first and elated members of the Clearfield High gymnastics team await judges to post score of ter Sarah Leonard had completed her floor routine. PAUL QUIGLEY eight matches. This time around, they downed Salt Lake City and Tucson out of the starting gate. And Jeff Reddan knows why. team. Five We have a tightly-kni- t of the six starts played together last veteran said. year, the We have a good block when we play a zone, and you have to give credit to our pass. And also, our offense has been strong." Redda, in his fifth IVA season, may have understated the case, since statistics released Monday show that the Smashers have the best team spiking average, and that their of starting hitters occupy three the top four rankings. Middie hitter Bernie Hite, blistering the volleyball at a .560 pace after two matches, is the leader. Reddan is second and Hans Viksten, who played amateur volleyball during in Sweden, is fourth and the is 100 perpent in Reddans words, better than last year. When superstar Ed Skorek, hero of the 1976 Olympics, arrives shortly, the ballanced offense will be that much stronger. The one new face in the lineup is AKLtNfc IUVAK, cont. on page 10 JOYCE DAVIES finishes floor routine for Falcons. minutes in toacn by a layior, ana voacn Paul Arlene seems a little surprised. iomey, nmcnen nomine, lanna recent Region One meet. But outlay relax a few |