Three set for national competition
Lynn Wloszek
Senior Sarah Dame and sophomore Kara Reighard will both compete in the all-around, and senior Katie Teft will compete on the uneven parallel bars.
Jerry Reighard said he has a lot of confidence in senior Teft, so much, that he had her change her entire routine two weeks before the meet.
“It is required that everyone on the bars have two release moves, but Katie has four,” Jerry Reighard said. “It is quite a spectacular bar routine and I am really excited for Katie’s chances of becoming an All-American.”
Teft believes in the new skills she has added to her set.
“I am very confident with my routine and I have been practicing it for two weeks,” Teft said. Every competition I have been in has helped me to prepare.”
Teft would like to reach All-American status, but really just wants to enjoy her last competition.
“My number one goal is to just out and enjoy my last competition,” Teft said.
Dame will rotate with Arizona State, and will start on the balance beam, before ending on the uneven bars.
“It’s good to be rotating with a team that has national recognition, and I am not concerned with starting on beam,” Dame said. “I still have to go out and do the same routines.”
Reighard said he is confident with Dame’s chances of becoming an All-American.
“I told each of the all-around competitors that they both have the opportunity to make it to the individual finals on Saturday,” Jerry Reighard said. “I also told them that to be an All-American is a very realistic goal.”
Dame said she is excited about the weekend.
“Becoming an All-American is a dream I have had since I started college, and now I have the chance to,” Dame said. “I want to go out and represent CMU the best I can, so there is definitely some pressure.”
Kara Reighard will compete in the all-around. She will rotate with No. 1 UCLA, and start on floor and end on the balance beam.
Jerry Reighard reiterated he believes both Dame and Kara Reighard have strong ability.
“Sarah and Kara are both equal in their opportunity, and both have different, but equally spectacular beam routines,” Jerry Reighard said. “Both of their chances are more in the all-around than any single event.”
Jerry Reighard said he does not like the fact the three competitors will be without their teammates.
“It is not a real comfortable position to be in because all year we have been preaching about being a team,” Jerry Reighard said. “The biggest obstacle there will be the fact that we will have no support.”
The three gymnasts look to become the first All-Americans in CMU history
The competition starts at 1 p.m. Thursday.
