By Tim Wester
Sports Correspondent
Westosha Central/Union Grove gymnastics coach Bill Price saw a state tournament appearance in Union Grove High School senior Devan Green’s future last November.
Green made Price’s prediction a reality last weekend, becoming the first Union Grove representative at the state tournament in nearly 30 years.
Green then continued to make her coach proud with an eighth-place finish in the vault with a score of 9.3 at the WIAA Division 1 State individual gymnastics meet.
“Devan did great and I was glad to have one more chance to go back to the state meet with one of my gymnasts,” said Price, whose program is scheduled to be combined with Kenosha next season. “She finished in the top ten in a loaded field of gymnasts, which was pretty impressive.”
Green performed a tuck tsukahara on her first vault to earn a score on 9.3 and then attempted a pike tsuk on her second vault and tallied a 9.4. On her third vault, Green finished with a score of 9.2 for a final averaged score of 9.3 overall.
“Green’s pike tsuk was the vault that got her to the state with a score of 9.525, but this time she had to place her hands down on the landing, which got her a lesser score,” Price said. “We were going for a medal at that point because we had nothing to lose after her first score.”
Despite falling short of winning a medal, Green enjoyed the atmosphere of her first state tournament appearance.
“I told Devan to be proud of her performance, which meant to do what she did to make it here,” Price said. “Devan did exactly what she was capable of, I just wish she would have made it in the all-around because she could have had a lot more fun.”
Price also had visions of having more gymnasts join Green at state this season, but key injuries help spoil his plan.
“At one point this season we were on a roll shooting for a team score of 137.25 before Jordan Bruley tore her ACL in our home meet with Waterford,” Price said. “Then the following week Sydney Rau had a high-ankle sprain in an open gym the day after the Madison Memorial Invite. The injuries slowed us down and we never accomplished our ultimate goal of hitting the 139 point mark like we did last season.”
Despite the misfortune of injuries, Price’s team had plenty of bright spots, from Lexi Biggs’ improved performance on the balance beam and all around, to Cassity Beth’s overall performance in her bar routine.
“We had some many positives this season, despite not knowing what direction the school was going with our team during the season,” Price said. “Sometimes we competed in anger over how we’re being treated, and we had no chance to make it really special because of the way the school handled everything.”
Green’s performance at state marked the final meet that Price will coach for Westosha Central/Union Grove combined team, with both schools merging with Kenosha.
“I’d like to thank the parents, gymnasts, club and rec kids, cheerleaders, and some of the administrators who cared about our girls,” Price said.
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