The HHS gymnastics team is younger than ever.  Having six junior high students out of 13 total athletes, the team is looking to sculpt the future.

“I’m not even a senior yet and I still feel like one of the main leaders of the team. It’s been a privilege to take some of the younger girls and show them how to be the best that they can be,” said Katie Leeke, junior.

With a wide age range throughout the entire team, they have made a bright future their uniting goal.

“We take everything seriously and work extremely hard at everything we do,” Leeke said.  “We are really pushing for a better future for the program.

The team has been together for a short period of time but has already started bonding within each practice and meet.

“Since kids are all over the place in age, we try to find things we have in common to bond with,” Leeke said. “The older kids are social and always include the junior high kids in jokes and common conversation.”

Injuries have been a constant struggle for the Royals this year.  With more than half of their starting gymnasts out with injuries, the Royals have been relying on younger talent throughout the season so far. Leeke is one of the injured athletes, and recently had elbow surgery.

“It kills me not to be able to compete with my team. The healing process is harder when you have to watch your teammates practice without you,” Leeke said.

Leeke feels the repercussions of injury in the whole team atmosphere.

“It’s been really hard on the team not having some of the more experienced girls out there practicing everyday,” Leeke said. “It’s mentally draining.”

One unique tradition that the team bonds with is their dance that serves as a warm-up before every practice. With music blaring, the gymnasts spread across the tumbling mat. All in sync, the team performs the dance together.

“It’s really embarrassing but really cool. We grow as a team really well with it,” Leeke said.  “Since we are such a young team, it’s important that we focus on growing together and have something to bond with.”

Every practice is started by this ritual of workouts that create a positive and happy atmosphere to kick off each practice.

Scoring high in meets this year isn’t necessarily the primary goal for this year’s team.  Getting bigger and stronger as individuals and improving in events is the main focus.

“If we could reach that goal, we would be looking very nice. We have high goals but we really try to make realistic goals so our team can achieve them,” Leeke said.

The team has lost their past four meets, but HHS gymnastics hopes that they are on track for a bigger, brighter future.