A four-year hiatus may have given some reason to believe Michelle DeHaan lost interest in Lowell gymnastics.
The Lowell gymnastics coach, while not visible at all high school practices and meets, had her beam-like focus on the Red Arrow future.
“I was working with our younger gymnasts at the lower levels as they competed at the AAU level,” DeHaan explained. “At the AAU level the girls learn everything. They compete in all four disciplines. By competing as an all-around gymnast there is less of a fear factor for any one event when they reach the high school.”
The result is when those gymnasts reach the varsity their skills are as strong as those at the high school level.
DeHaan’s hard work will be on display in 2013, as freshmen Sarena Wilterdink and Lauren Browning, products of the RAYG program, will begin their four-year tenure at the varsity level.
The freshmen join returning gymnasts Lauren DeHaan, Kaezi Bladey, Meghan Plutschouw and Betheny Kaczanowski, as well as Danielle Krajewski an Morgan Taylor.
“These girls are definitely stronger, cleaner and have a higher skill set after an off season of taking lessons,” DeHaan said.
While qualifying for the team regional is in Lowell’s sight, competing for a league title may not be.
The returning conference champion Kenowa Hills and gymnastics powers Rockford and Forest Hills Central all stand in the way.
“Both Rockford and FHC all have Division I talent. That is hard to compete against,” DeHaan explains. “We have good balance and more depth, now the girls just need to clean up their routines and make the right connections,” Dehaan concludes.

Filed under: General, gymnastics