Cheney gymnastics continuing to grow

CHENEY - Gymnastics took some big leaps in the 2023-24 season, and that was before they got on the floor in competition.

The team features 10 athletes, seven from Cheney and three out of Medical Lake. "I'm excited for this season because our team has doubled in size since last year," head coach Melissa Linton said earlier in the season.

Cheney gymnastics had its birth in 2015 with its first coach hired just days before the start of competition. That inaugural season produced a meet win, a runner-up at districts and sending two competitors - Alexis Miller and Olivia Hovater - to state.

This is Linton's third year guiding the program and by far its biggest turnout.

In year one for her, things were quite sparse as sports were just coming out of COVID. Her first team had but just two competitors - and one of those ended up injured.

But that one athlete, freshman Emma Ayers, a newbie to the sport at the high school level, would go on to earn runner-up honors at JV districts. It was an amazing feat competing against people who have done gymnastics before, Linton said.

Ayres is now the veteran of the Cheney contingent as a junior.

"I don't know what happened, we just got lucky this year," Linton said of the increased turnout other than team members encouraging friends to give the sport a try. "We have also been lucky enough to work with Medical Lake High School," she added.

Naturally, it's Linton's hope that the growth spurt continues.

"I would hope that we could keep growing and keep getting more people interested so that we can continue to have like a team chance," Linton said referencing the mechanics of the sport.

The Top 5 competitors' meet points are added together to produce a team score so that's why numbers are critical.

Because of the cost of equipment, Cheney, and other Greater Spokane League schools, train and compete elsewhere. Central Valley High School is the lone facility with equipment, so practices and some meets are held at the Mead Sports Complex, a private business.

The team features members of all experience levels, Linton said.

"In both schools, there are girls who haven't done gymnastics since they were little and are returning to the sport now," Linton said. "We also have a couple athletes who have never done gymnastics and are trying for the first time. It's a tough sport, but they have done well picking up the basics."

Linton pointed to several competitors who have stood out so far.

"We started with seven athletes competing on bars at the beginning of the season, but now we have added Lily Slater and Cheylyn Brundage as bars competitors," Linton said.

Linton is also impressed with Sarah Bolstad on beam and, "How she can make an event that is mentally challenging and make it look so easy."

Makalia McKenney has shown true determination this season by continuing to work hard in practice to upgrade her routines, Linton added.

Cheney was host to its second-to-last meet a week ago where the lone senior, Athena Faye from Medical Lake, was honored. They concluded GSL competition Jan. 30 with hopes of qualifying athletes for district and state competition.