Bloomington High School South, The Gothic, 2013, Page 105

Description:	,PPINGasticsam faced a new set of rules set3rth by the National Federation ofState High School Associations.To an outsider, the idea ofgymnastics seem fairly straightforward: flip, turn, spin. The higherand faster the better. Dont loseyour balance, and stick the landing.But for actual gymnasts, the rulesare complex, and they never stayedthe same for long. 2013 broughtwith it one of these rule bookchanges, an adjustment thatchallenged Souths elite gymnasticsteam but also pushed them tochange and improve theirperformance.Junior Lauren Bennett wasone of Souths gymnasts affected bythe change. According to Bennett,the change in rules was prettynormal. The rulebook is supposedto change every few years,Bennett said.With a rulebookchange, thebasics of thesport remainedthe same, butcertain movesgot lowered intheir scoringvalue becausetheir difficultyhad beenthe last rulebook update. Inaddition, new moves were addedto the book, and these new moveswere usually higher in scoringvalue than older moves. This keptgymnasts on their toes and forcedthem to continue to improve andlearn newer and harder stunts inorder to get the judges attention.Some changes were assimple as allowing chalk marks orathletic tape on the vault runway,while others were as complex asadding point values to 1 1 newbalance beam tricks.While the team trainedtogether, meeting their own goalsrequired them to work on certainmoves within their personal events.Adjusting for the changes inthe rulebook was more of anindividual thing than a team thing.Each person is affected specificallyby the moves that they do alreadyor that they are able to learn fromthe new book, said Bennett.Keeping up with rule changeswas difficult due to the individualityof the sport, but it did allow eachSouth gymnast to excel in their ownway and pushed them to alwayskeep improving their skill.- SARAH MARSHALLThe South Dance Teamdisplays their second placetrophy won at the AvonInvitational. The teamplaced second in the ElitePoms division, the highestlevel of competition. PHOTOCOURTESY CHRISTIANAWILKERSONThe seniors of the Southdance team poses behindtheir elite awards that theteam won at the AvonInvitational. The team wontwo awards for their pomsroutine and their jazzroutine. PHOTO COURTESYCHRISTIANA WILKERSONSenior Christiana Wilkersonmoves to the front whileSouths Dance Teamperforms their jazz routineduring half time of a boysbasketball game. The danceteam was a major hit for allthe fans. PHOTO COURTESYCHRISTIANA WILKERSON5. Junior Isaiah Gooch dribbles the ball past a defenderand around the three point line during Souths home gameagainst Center Grove on February 7. The Panthers wonthe game 65-44. 6. Senior guard Aareone McCoy jogsto the bench while the Panthers warm up before theirhome game against Center Grove. The Panthers played agreat game and won 65-44. 7. Junior forward KeatonHendricks moves to stop a driving defender who is cuttingto the basket. The Panthers played fantastic defenseagainst Center Grove, contributing to the win. PHOTOSCOURTESY OF RICHARD BREEDENtilt*
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomsouth/id/8657
Collection:	Bloomington High School South

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