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MCA gymnasts settle into new home

NEW HOME — Martin County Area senior tri-captains Sady Ringnell (left), Sabrina Segar (middle) and Emily Hagen will guide the Magic gymnastics team into its season-opener against New Ulm on Friday night at its new home - the Live Fit workout center - in Fairmont. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — For the second year in a row, the Martin County Area Magic gymnastics program will undergo a major change.

Last season, Beraiah Peterson became only the second head gymnastics coach in the three decade-plus storied history of Martin County Area (a cooperative agreement between Martin County West and Fairmont high schools) and previously MCW by replacing retired legendary mentor LeeAnn Steen.

This year, Peterson and the Magic have adjusted to life in a new home — the brand new Live Fit Sport & Wellness Center in Fairmont, which is located in the old Kmart building on State Street. The Magic formerly practiced and competed in the Welcome Elementary School’s gymnasium, which is no longer in use for sporting activities.

“Live Fit has been a great fit for our program,” said Peterson, who guided MCA to a third-place team showing (133.95 points) at last season’s Big South Conference Meet and a fourth-place total (131.675) at the 2020 Section 3A Meet. “We’re still adjusting to the new environment and figuring out where all the equipment best fits together within the gym’s floor space.

“(Live Fit owner) Alex (Schliesmann) has been more than helpful in accommodating our needs, and it’s shaping up nicely for Friday’s season-opener.”

Martin County Area vaults into dual-meet action against Big South Conference rival New Ulm on Friday, with the junior varsity hitting the runway at 6 p.m., followed by the varsity competition.

Earlier this week, Peterson was still working on getting an official approval from the Minnesota State High School League for Live Fit’s novel setup for the vault competition.

“The vaulters start their approach on the runway outside of our gym, go through the open (garage) door and hit the vault table located near the center of the gym,” said Peterson. “Our girls are getting used to it, and we’ve taken all the safety precautions for the competitors.”

Senior tri-captains Sabrina Segar, Sady Ringnell and Emily Hagen literally will vault the Magic into action on the unique piece of equipment during Friday night’s premiere.

Segar, a three-time Class A individual state qualifier, will look to cap her outstanding prep gymnastics career within a coronavirus-condensed 10 dual-meet schedule in 2021.

“If we can get all of our regular-season schedule in and have the opportunity to compete at section and possibly state, I’d be happy,” said Segar, who will join sophomore standout Anna Bachenberg as two of MCA’s top all-arounders this season.

“Sabrina’s a hard worker and a good captain, so I don’t have to worry about the girls getting practice underway on time if I’m running late in transit from work,” said Peterson. “Anna has a quiet side, but like Sabrina, works hard everyday in the gym and leads by example.”

Peterson sees junior Hailee Schuett having the potential to return as a possible all-arounder in the Magic’s varsity rotation, while junior Ellie Schultze also returns on the heels of an injury-riddled sophomore campaign that limited her to the balance beam during MCA’s sectional competition in 2020.

“Ellie’s looking good on beam again, and we’ll see how her body stands up when she competes on the (uneven parallel) bars and vault, too, this season,” said Peterson.

Sophomore Anna Utermarck, who also landed on the injured reserve list for the majority of the 2019-20 schedule, and junior Ellie Hernes return to the varsity lineup this shortened season.

“Anna has come back strong from being hurt last year, and will compete floor (exercise), beam and vault for us, while Ellie will return to the unevens and beam after competing on those two pieces for us during the sectional meet,” said Peterson. “Ellie has a clean vault and her floor is right there, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Abi Chavez, who made the Magic’s sectional floor rotation, and Hannah Linse, who competed on vault during the Section 3A Meet, will return to their specialties this season.

Peterson sees Chavez “potentially” making the varsity vault lineup, while Linse is in the running for a spot on the beam with more work in the gym.

Ringnell has a strong floor routine and solid vault, while Hagen is “right there for vault and beam,” according to Peterson, while Kara Osmundsen “swings clean unevens” with the potential to contend for a spot on the event.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions, only two people per gymnast will be allowed to attend the competitions at Live Fit.

“Only fans from the home team at each meet will be given access to watch in the gym, along with essential workers, due to a mandate from the state,” said Peterson. “Fans, however, will be able to watch the competition through live-streaming through the Martin County West website — both home and away meets.

“Overall, I’m just glad we’re back in the gym and able to finally compete again.”

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