Alpharetta has something to prove in the state championship gymnastics meet, which will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Westminster.
The Raiders revealed last year that they had talent, with Kelsey Kopec winning the all-around competition at the state finals. However, Alpharetta could not compete for the team championship because they failed to qualify.
They missed qualifying by .075 points.
“Winning an individual title is great, but nothing compares to winning a state championship as a team,” Kopec said. “We fell short as a team last year, and we didn’t let that happen again this time. We’re here as a team and want to win as a team.”
Alpharetta is a top contender in the six-team competition, which also consists of Walton, Westminster, Milton, Tift County and Kell. The Raiders are undefeated this season, with Kopec winning the all-around competition in each meet.
“I feel like we’ve worked hard all year, and we’ve got a great group going to state,” Alpharetta assistant coach Michelle Drehoff said. “If we are ever going to win a team championship, this will be the group that has the best chance to do it.”
Kopec, now a junior, has been pushed by a teammate, freshman sensation Sarah Parkey. The two are favorites for the all-around title, along with Pope’s Alisha Rancone, Walton’s Angela Stein and Lassiter’s Candice Walton.
Kopec said she was shocked to win all-around last year. “It was a big surprise because I knew a lot of the seniors I was competing against had already accepted college scholarships, and I was only a sophomore.”
The 5-foot-7 Kopec has generated interest from Auburn, Illinois and Central Michigan, among others. Her strongest events are the bars and floor exercises.
“I know that there are some juniors and younger gymnasts that are really talented,” Kopec said. “I’m just going to go out there and do what I practice, and hopefully everything will turn out the way I hope it will.”
One of Kopec’s serious challengers will be Parkey. The two train out of the same Duluth gym and have known each other for more than 10 years.
“We’ve been friends for so long we’re practically almost sisters,” Parkey said. “We work well together. We know how to push and motivate each other. It has been great having Kelsey on my team this year to help me learn about high school gymnastics.”
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