Independence Gymnastics Team Tumbles Out of its First Season

Having only four members, the Independence Gymnastics team finished their first season with six meets. Sophomores Ishita Rathore, Lahari Dosoja, Riya Dass, and Shreya Chacko alongside Coach Lori Barthlow performed with zeal and learned lots of new skills and events. Let’s get to know our Independence Gymnastics team and coach a little better.All four members were very enthusiastic about joining the gymnastics team. Rathore said, “I was excited for all of it, and I couldn’t wait for it all to come back to me.” Many of the members had prior experience with gymnastics. Dosoja explains her thought process when she decided she wanted to be a part of the gymnastics team, “I did club gymnastics for five years, and I wanted to see what highschool gymnastics was like.”

Even prior to joining the team the four members claimed to already be well acquainted with one another. “It’s been fun because it’s not just gymnastics. We also had spaghetti dinners and secret sisters,” Dass explains her close bond with her fellow teammates, ”We just had so many great opportunities to bond and strengthen as a team.”

“I lucked out with a great group of girls, who work really hard,” Coach Barthlow offers a new perspective, “They really pull together as a team; I couldn’t ask for more.”

Having only four members, the team faced many challenges. “It’s a lot harder to place higher in competitions, but I think we are doing really good for just four people,” said Chacko. Dosoja adds, “I want more people to join the team so we can place in the competitions and get to know more people, but it’s fun having four people because you can get really close to them and have a tight knit group.” All the members held onto the positives of having a small group.

In terms of how having a small roster affects team growth Coach Barthlow said, “I got to spend more time on specifics with each of the girls, teaching them, and really getting to know them; They were very coachable.”

Coach Barthlow has high hopes for next year, “I think we have a really bright future ahead.” The members also invite more Independence Tigers to join next year. Dass said, “We know next year we’re gonna have more people, so if we can already do this well then next year we have a lot more coming.”