Despite a small turnout of just 15 athletes, Redmond High School gymnastics coach Jason Farr is very optimistic about the season — and for good reason.

His team’s co-captains from last year, sophomore Ally Garcia and junior Marjorie Drieu, are back and raring to go, and he also picked up a number of talented club gymnasts who will help the Mustangs stay competitive against the deeper programs in 4A Kingco.

“We’ve got a lot of talented gymnasts that we didn’t have in the past… along with a bunch of returners,” Farr noted. “Even the girls who aren’t necessarily gymnasts are ahead of the schedule in getting routines put together, and this year they understand how it works. We look better than we did last year.”

CLUB VS. HIGH SCHOOL

For his athletes with backgrounds in club gymnastics, participating at a high school meet is night and day from a typical club meet, and it can take some getting used to.

“It’s very different, they’re allowed to throw moves that wouldn’t be (allowed) at the club level,” Farr explained. “In high school, it’s no-holds barred.”

Though they may not hold seniority in age over most of the team, Farr is sticking with district returners Garcie and Drieu as his co-captains because they know the ropes and what is needed to score well at the high school level.

“They know what they’re doing,” Farr said of his underclassmen leaders. “Whether they’re the elite gymnasts or not, they’ve been through the system and they know what I’m expecting from the team.”

Another significant difference will be that since high school sports are open to all skill levels, the club gymnasts will be practicing with girls of a significantly lower skill set to begin with, which Farr cautions may lead to the more experienced girls slacking off.

“We have a new assistant coach this year (Richelle Peck) who was on the Redmond team for four years, and it helps to have someone else here to ‘drop the hammer’ on occasion,” Farr said with a laugh. “She’s got a lot more of the dance and choreography skills than I do… and it comes across better from a female. When I do a routine, they just kind of laugh.”

While a lot of gymnasts prefer, or specialize, in one event over another, Farr is a big proponent of all-around versatility, something he hopes his team will improve on this year and embrace with an open mind.

“Last year, a lot of girls were afraid to do certain events, so they wouldn’t,” he recalled. “If they worked it, they probably could have boosted the entire team’s score. … But if they’re terrified of an event, I’m not going to force (them) to do it.”

NEW BLOOD

Like a lot of other teams in 4A Kingco, Farr was fortunate to pick up some top-level talent, including athletes like senior Megan Moore, whose impressive resume includes being crowned the Junior Olympic state champion in 2008, while taking third at nationals for the beam event, and junior Akari Matsumoto, a solid level 9 gymnast who looks to be a consistent point scorer in all events.

“Having some high-end gymnasts and winning a few meets will go a long way towards morale for the team,” Farr said. “The possibility of actually being in first place at meets, is a big thing.”

Farr said his team goals are simply to score in the mid 170s at the league meets, stay injury-free and send at least a couple of his girls to the 4A state championships.

Still, the third-year Mustang coach stresses that gymnastics, particularly at the high school level, be kept with stress at a minimum and fun at a maximum.

“I told the girls it’s not about having to win everything, I want them to come away from the experience knowing they learned something and gained something out of it,” Farr explained. “Hopefully, for the rest of their lives, they’ll go, ‘Wow, I did gymnastics and I really enjoyed it.”

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REDMOND GYMNASTICS AT A GLANCE

Coach: Jason Farr, 3rd season

2009 turnout: 15

TOP RETURNERS

Jr. Marjorie Drieu: Team co-captain has state aspirations after nasty ankle injury late last season. Strong on floor and bars.

So. Ally Garcia: Strong leader has extensive background in competitive gymnastics. Scored well at districts last year and knows the ropes.

Sr. Kim Kruse: Team’s only senior returner has experience and is solid all-around.

KEY NEWCOMERS

Jr. Akari Matsumoto: Level 9 gymnast will bolster Mustangs’ competitiveness

Sr. Christina Arghira: Returning to gymnastics after time off. Excellent work ethic.

Sr. Megan Moore: Junior Olympics state champion in 2008 (Level 10) is great addition to Mustangs’ roster. Key will be adapting to format of high school gymnastics.

KEY MEET

Thursday, Dec. 10 vs. Newport and Roosevelt at Newport

Will be an important measuring stick early in the season to see how the Mustangs fare against top-notch competition in 4A Kingco. A strong team performance will build confidence and morale for the rest of the year.

“We hadn’t been against (Newport) before, so it was a little bit of a shock how good their team was. They were like Woodinville, Bothell, Inglemoor–they came out as a huge force.” – Farr on last season’s meet against Newport

DID YOU KNOW?

In 2006, Coach Farr helped guide the Bothell High gymnastics team to its first and only state title as an assistant coach. He brings over 20 years of experience and currently coaches at Eastside Gymnastics Academy in Woodinville, where the team practices.