West Bloomfield gymnastics eyes return to regionals behind returning core

WEST BLOOMFIELD — West Bloomfield’s 2022 season may not have ended at the state finals, but it was a significant step in the right direction.

Behind Paige Harris’s (9th), a 2022 graduate, and senior Sophia Nelander’s (7th) top-10 performances in the all-around at the Region 4 Championship on March 5, West Bloomfield finished sixth in a field of 12 teams. Junior Angel Aharauka also finished 16th in the all-around out of 84 gymnasts.

Nelander (vault, bars and beam) and Aharauka (beam) return as the only starters to qualify for the 2022 state finals in their respective events. Nelander, now a team captain, finished 27th in the all-around at the state finals on March 12 and is poised for another incredible season as West Bloomfield’s experienced leader.

“She’s strong on all four events,” West Bloomfield coach Dean Smarjesse said. “She’s a really, really great girl, and I can’t say enough good things about her. She’s always happy.”

Nelander, along with Aharauka, junior Isabelle Geller and sophomore Mia Silski, will serve as the returning starters from last year’s squad after the departure of graduates, Harris and Gabriella Falkowski. Senior Greta Latvenas and juniors Leilany Gandarilla and Siya Dhoot are expected to be reliable scorers for West Bloomfield this season.

The departures of the senior leaders left a void for West Bloomfield to fill, and that’s where Nelander took control of her veteran role.

With new, inexperienced gymnasts joining for the new season, Nelander said she’s had to take on the leadership role early.

Even after graduating, Nelander said, the 2022 senior class has made an impact for not only this year’s team, but on her role as a leader.

“They’ve all been doing gymnastics here forever, so they were super energetic and nice,” Nelander said. “They were role models.”

The experienced core took care of business early this season, earning a win Dec. 6 at Walled Lake Central over Waterford United, Walled Lake Central/Western and Walled Lake Northern.

Smarjesse said he was impressed with how the gymnasts performed in the season opener.

“I’m just really happy with the girls,” Smarjesse said. “They’re a good group of girls, and I think they know they need to improve on some things. We’re a lot farther ahead than I thought we would be.”

In West Bloomfield’s last meet against Birmingham United, Bloomfield Hills and Troy on Jan. 14, West Bloomfield finished in third-place with Nelander and Geller earning the highest all-around scores for West Bloomfield, scoring 32.925 and 32.725, respectively.

Nelander, Silski, Aharauka and Geller will have to take the reins for now until the rest of the team develops, but Smarjesse said progress is being made at each practice.

While it was a challenge at first, Nelander said, she’s come into her own with her mentor role and continues to progress as a leader.

“Obviously, it can be a little awkward, but since we’re all here for the same thing, we can just pick up a conversation on why they joined and what they want to do,” Nelander said.

Once the young gymnasts are up to speed, West Bloomfield could make some noise behind its veteran leaders.