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As if Breanna Albert’s mountain wasn’t steep enough to climb, five days before the state gymnastics meet, the senior sprained her ankle while trying to perfect her routine on the balance beam. Despite hardly practicing all week, Albert gutted it out, stepping onto the beam last Saturday, at the state class “A” individual state, bad ankle and all. Bad ankle and all, Albert “stuck” her routine (a gymnastics term), posting a 8.85, her second highest score of the season. The fact that it placed her 16 overall on the beam was irrelevant. Albert had stared adversity in the face and kept her balance.

“The fact that she stayed on the beam was great,” said Ed Wakefield, Chisago Lakes head gymnastics coach. “She was nursing a bad ankle all week, so it was really impressive that she stayed on.”

The performance was Albert’s last as a high school gymnast, which made Saturday’s state meet even tougher to stomach for all those involved in the Chisago Lakes gymnastics program. A staple on the mat for the past several seasons, she will be missed.

“The team is going to miss her solid all-around scores, that’s for sure,” explained Wakefield. “It’s always tough to lose a four eventer. She’s consistent, she’s just always been solid. Everyone is going to miss her.”

While Albert was reflecting on the past, junior Dani Medin had already begun thinking about next year. Performing on the vault, Medin’s first state tourney experience was overwhelming to say the least. Next year will be different.

Out of 33 vaulters, Medin was the first one down the runway, the first gymnast to kick off last Saturday’s state individual competition. A difficult task for anyone, let alone a first time state participant.

“First person of the meet, that’s tough,” smiled Wakefield.

Fighting nerves, Medin struggled on her first vault before nailing her second attempt, scoring an 8.575, placing her 33 overall.

“She knew she had a vault that wasn’t going to place her. So, we were trying to do a new vault. It’s the state tournament and you go for broke,” remarked Wakefield. “She stumbled on her first attempt and we needed to get a score for her so we had her do it again and she nailed it pretty good. She never got a chance to try her new vault but there is always next year.”

What about next year? Just a junior, Medin will be back, better than ever with her sights set on another state tourney berth. A berth that is well within her reach.

“She’s just got to keep plugging away, work hard, and she could have a great senior season,” commented Wakefield. “Like with anything, it comes down to how bad you want it and I think she wants it.”

Class A State Gymnastics Meet

Individual Results (CL only):

Beam-

16. Breanna Albert 8.85

Vault-

33. Dani Medin 8.575

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