POULSBO — North Kitsap High School’s gymnasts are back in action executing flips and leaps, twirl kicks and handsprings and amazing things that most people can only dream.

How’s that sound for preseason practice.

The Vikings have been taking to the Zero Gravity Athletics gym since early in November, getting back into top shape for the upcoming season. Competition for the purple and gold won’t begin until January, but the hype of potential has already been building.

Though the crew is smaller this year, junior Alice Pittack said she thinks that the returning Vikings — nearly half the squad — have improved individually.

While the other half of newcomers bolster the very real possibility of increasing the already dense talent pool.

That pool, including three Vikings fresh off their first trip to state last year, is being filled in a very conducive and friendly environment, said freshman Katie Plowman.

“It is a lot friendlier here, and I think it’s going to be a good experience,” Plowman said as she takes the step from club gymnastics into the high school realm. “I’ve already learned more to not let my fears take control of me.”

Plowman and fellow-freshman Melissa Kunold are the only Vikings new to the NK mat with previous club experience. They and the rest of the Viking crew have been building the base for their 2007 season experience during the last two months.

“I like to spend the end of November and start of December on getting back in condition, then we use December to develop (floor) routines,” said head coach Kris Goodfellow.

The floor event is at the base of the gymnastics curriculum, and it is also the one event that takes the most time to compose, Goodfellow said. The routines, which the Vikings will take to the competitive floor, are being forged by creativity, repetition and personality in practice.

“I pick music to my personality, you’d never see me doing classical because it’s too slow,” Pittack said. “I have an upbeat, happy personality so I need something like that to dance to.”

“We like to pick music that inspires them,” Goodfellow said.

Many of this year’s 20 Viking gymnasts are already motivating themselves for a trip to the state meet in February following one of the team’s best seasons in years in 2006. After a nearly undefeated regular season, North’s pinnacle was reached when it nearly bested four-time 3A state champion Bainbridge Island in one of the final meets of the season.

A few days later, the Vikings were awarded the Narrows League Bridge Division title.

Then, NK sent four gymnasts to state along with Kai Morrow who had been the lone Viking state competitor for two years before that.

However, Morrow has had a somber start to her senior season this year. Early on in preseason practice she bruised her knee and has not been able to practice since.

Goodfellow reported that nothing is torn or ripped and Morrow should be able to return, but it is just a question of when and at what strength.

“The athletic medicine program at the school is very good. They’ve been training her and keeping her in good condition … they know it’s her senior year,” she said.

Returning state competitor Whitney Glebe and Morrow along with Paige Woodside and Erica Sherman make up the senior class which will lead the Vikings into 2007.

NK’s first meet will be the Washington State Gymnastics Coaches Association Invite at 2 p.m. Jan. 6 at Issaquah High School.

2007 North Kitsap Gymnastics Schedule

Date Opponent Site

Jan. 6 WSGCA Invite Issaquah, 2 p.m.

Jan. 6 Port Angeles Invite Port Angeles, TBA

Jan. 13 Shorewood Shorewood, 4 p.m.

Jan. 19 Capital/Port Angeles Black Hills Gym, 5 p.m.

Jan. 26 Bainbridge Bainbridge, 6 p.m.

Jan. 27 Capital/Port Angeles Olympic Center 2 p.m.

Feb. 10 West Central Districts Federal Way, 2 p.m.

Feb. 16 State Meet Tacoma Dome