Annie Guido, Kalie Stallard and Callie Jedrzejek want to make this a senior season to remember. So how do the Olmsted Falls gymnasts do that?
By making it back to the state meet.
As sophomores, they finished sixth at state after barely missing a state berth as freshmen. They just missed again last year, finishing sixth at the West Geauga Northeast district meet, just as they had in 2006. The top five teams from the Northeast district advance to state.
Last year, Guido qualified to state individually in balance beam and all-around. The master plan this season is to get the whole team back to the state meet on March 6-7 at Hilliard Darby High School.
Last year, their dream came down to the very end as Solon, with a team score of 135.925, edged out Olmsted Falls (135.2) for the fifth and final state qualifying berth.
But this year would be the ultimate for Guido, Stallard and Jedrzejek, who are the best of friends who’ve known one another since long before high school. The three seniors have trained together for 11 years at Above the Bar Gym in Berea, formerly known as Thome-Ohio Gymnastics, and have been friends since about the fifth grade.
“We’ve known each other for such a long time we have a better bond,” Stallard said. “We know what each of us needs to be pushed. We just hope to do our best when it counts. Hopefully, that makes us go far.”
“We’ve got a lot of motivation this year because we were so close to making it as juniors,” Jedrzejek said. “We’re coming back even harder to try and make it this year. We want to lead the team to being a state qualifier this year.”
Guido thinks the team’s chances are good.
“We didn’t graduate anyone from last year, plus we’ve added some great freshmen,” she said. “We’re going to be a strong team. We just have to keep working together and working hard. We’ve all gotten a lot better. We’re better balanced this year.”
So far, so good. The Bulldogs scored a team-record 136.85 on Dec. 20 to take second in a quad at Strongsville.
Guido and Stallard are both Level 9 gymnasts at the private club level. Jedrzejek is Level 8.
“We’re a more bonded team this year,” said Guido, who has a 3.95-grade-point average. “We know each other better and what to expect out of ourselves. Hopefully, we can make it to state this year. We seem to be a lot better.”
“I think the team has a good shot of making it to state,” Falls’ fourth-year coach Jen Bement said. “They’re doing very well so far. We have a few things to iron out, but they’re going in there with confidence and strong as they can go.”
Guido finished 15th in the all-around (35.0) last year and 21st as a sophomore (33.9). She was All-Ohio (top 10) in balance beam (9.15) last season after taking 15th in the same event the year before.
“The last 11 years seem like it’s gone quickly,” Stallard said. “I don’t want it to end.”
It’ll be an emotional season for all three seniors.
“It’s hard to think about it,” Jedrzejek said. “When the three of us sit down and talk about it, we all tear up. Certainly, there are some days you want it to end. But generally, it’s just hard to believe we’ve been doing this all our lives and it’s about to end. It’s rough.”
And it’s no less difficult for the head coach.
“It’s going to be a rough run for me because I’ve coached them since they were age 7,” said Bement, a 1996 Olmsted Falls graduate. “I want them to take it all the way. I’m attached to those three in particular because I’ve coached them for so long.
“Hopefully, we’ll see. It’ll all come down to that district meet.”
Contact Paul Heyse at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. 

THE TOP GYMNASTS

Colleen Agozinno, Magnificat

Now a senior, the Westlake resident keyed the Streaks’ run to state as a sophomore, qualifying in all-around.

Annie Guido, Olmsted Falls

Senior is a two-time state qualifier in beam and all-around.

Kelly Nortz, Magnificat

Bay Village resident was state champ in vault and second in last year’s all-around as a freshman. 

AREA TEAM CAPSULES

Magnificat Blue Streaks

COACH: Joe Gura, 18th year
ASSISTANT: Meg Leneghan
2008-09 RECORD: 1st at Medina Division I sectional; 2nd at West Geauga district and state meet
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Colleen Agozzino, sr. (Westlake resident); Andrienne Arndt, so. (Westlake); Lauren Majoy, sr. (Westlake); Teresa McCafferty, jr.; Katelyn McChrystal, so.; Claire Modic, so.; Jackie Molchan, sr. (North Ridgeville); Kelly Nortz, so. (Bay Village); Maureen Pryatel, so. (Westlake); Alyssa Snyder, jr.; Susan Sullivan, jr.; Erica Zanath, sr.
REMAINDER OF ROSTER: Katie Cooney, fr. (Avon Lake); Brenna Gibbons, fr. (Westlake); Bridget Keane, fr. (Bay Village); Calli Majoy. fr. (Westlake); Brianna Murnan, fr. (Avon Lake); Alyssa Van Buren, fr.; Dee Dee Weir, fr.; Shannon Welch, sr. (Westlake)
SCOUTING REPORT: Magnificat will try to extend its streak of state tournament appearances to 21. Mags has made it to state every year since 1989 and hasn’t finished lower than third since 1990. The Blue Streaks have won a record 10 state championships, taking second five times and third four times.

Olmsted Falls Bulldogs

COACH: Jen Bement, 4th year (16th overall)
2007-08 RECORD: 3rd at Brecksville Division I sectional; 6th at West Geauga district
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Annie Guido, sr.; Jessica Heyduk, jr.; Nicole Hill, so.; Callie Jedrzejek, sr.; Lauren Mandalakis, so.; Rachel Portik, so.; Kalie Stallard, sr.
REMAINDER OF ROSTER: Kristen Clayton, fr.; Karissa Dodge, fr.; Meghan Johnson, so.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Bulldogs finished sixth at Hilliard Darby in their state debut two years ago. The state berth is sandwiched around to near-misses in ’06 and ’08, taking sixth at districts both times. Guido is a two-time state qualifier in beam and all-around. Stallard, Jedrezjek and Heyduk were state team qualifiers in 2006-07.

Westlake Demons

COACH: Nancy English
2007-08 RECORD: 6th at Medina Division I sectional
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Alexandra James, sr.; Lydia Puccini, sr.; Erin Thomas, jr.; Jessica Wojcik, sr.
REMAINDER OF ROSTER: Hayley Hartman, fr.; Alesk Tyler, fr.
SCOUTING REPORT: James was a 2008 district qualifier in beam, taking 10th at sectionals (8.55).

Independents

Midview: Ashley Schaefer, fr.; Christina Schaefer, sr.

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