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The student news site of Stillwater Area High School

The Pony Express

The student news site of Stillwater Area High School

The Pony Express

The student news site of Stillwater Area High School

The Pony Express

Junior Ella Zirbes committed to Utah in 8th grade

Ella Zirbes commits to University of Utah

Maddy Young, Business Editor and Distribution January 21, 2022

Junior Ella Zirbes committed to the University of Utah in 8th grade. Her gymnastics career started when she was only two years old, and now she has a full ride scholarship to the University of Utah. She...

Ninth grade gymnast Ella Zirbes signs autographs for her fans at the U.S. Championships. This was held in Kansas City Missouri last August. Fans crowd Zirbes with shirts and merchandise to sign.

Determination will pay off for Zirbes

Maria Supan, Business Editor December 13, 2019

Hardworking athletes have a strong desire to reach the top level of a sport they are passionate about. Although this dream becomes a reality to very few athletes, freshman Ella Zirbes, a young 14 old gymnast,...

Girls varsity gymnastics team huddles up before a meet against White Bear Lake on Jan. 2. They are hoping for another state title this season.

Ida Holde Bjorkelund adapts to life in America

Julia Bennett, Business Editor January 26, 2019

Ida Holde Bjorkelund is a foreign exchange student from Norway joining the district for her senior year. She has been welcomed in by many, including girls on the varsity gymnastics team. She is meeting...

Gretchen Sharp, Isabel Bartosh and Peyton Classon smiling in their home gym. Before practice, the gymnasts show their excitement.

Gymnastics state champs return with high expectations

Elle Sprenger, Social Media Editor December 7, 2018

The start of the season begins for girls gymnastics. After winning state last year, the gymnastics team begins their 2018-19 season. On Dec. 15, the gymnasts will compete in an invitational tournament...

Alternative Copy story by Emma Lowey

Minnesota female athletes inspire future generations

Logan Huber, Distribution Reporter March 25, 2018

Many students have important people in their lives who they like to call role models. Whether it is in sports, academics, music or just in life in general, these are people others look up to and inspire...

CHAMPS: Gymnastics posts school record score to win state title

CHAMPS: Gymnastics posts school record score to win state title

Hunter Hippel, Online Editor-in-Chief March 7, 2018

If the Stillwater gymnastics team was going to have its best performance of the season, then the 2018 Class 2A State Tournament was the time to do it. The Ponies posted a team score of 150.25, their...

Infographic by Madison Weispfenning

Gymnastics sets eyes on state tournament

Madison Weispfenning, Editorial Cartoonist February 19, 2018

The gymnastics team has been one of Minnesota's best this year, currently ranked No.1 in the state.  Led by coaches Dusty Dennis and Traci Swenson, experience is everywhere, from the coaching staff...

Thole twins headed for success in gymnastics, wrestling

Thole twins headed for success in gymnastics, wrestling

Tristan Hatchell, Video Editor April 3, 2017

A lot of people think that being able to play a sport well comes down to genetics, but in this case it isn’t just Kevin or Lauren’s own genetic. The Thole siblings are both headed for success....

Photo Courtesy By Angie Kranz - “I really enjoy the team, and how it feels more like another family than just a team", Peyton Classon, after 3 teammates and her receive medals at the dual meet at Stillwater Jr. High.

Classon shows off skills for swim team

Ryan Shepherd, Graphic Cartoonist November 5, 2016

Peyton Classon first year swimming making huge impacts Sophomore Peyton Classon is a member of the swim and dive team. This is her first year diving and she is already one of the best divers on the...

Team members Linnea Rusted and Danielle Keran put chalk on their hands as they prepare to practice the uneven bars. Chalk helps the gymnasts to grip onto the bars so injuries like slipping do not happen. Chalk also absorbs sweat and it protects the gymnast's hands.
”My favorite skill on the uneven bars is giants. They’re a skill where you basically start in a handstand swing around the bar and finish back in a handstand. You typically do two giants in a routine then let go to dismount. They were pretty scary to learn but once I got the hang of them, they were actually really fun to do,” junior Rustad said.

Gymnastics prepares for upcoming season

Madison Crain, Layout editor November 18, 2015

  This season the gymnastics team will have three captains and five coaches all working together so that the team can make it to state. The coaches are Traci Swenson, Caroline Urgo, Dusty Dennis...

Photo by Anna Craggs Ben Winkle excitingly stands at SAHS knowing his gymnastics career will be brought to the next level shortly. Winkle said, "Gymnastics kind of made me who I am. I spend so much time working out, like 20 hours a week six days a week. It takes just as much time as school does so just the relationships I have developed with my teammates means everything to me."

Winkle flips into the Gophers organization

Joey Costa, Advertising Editor April 9, 2015

Flipping and tumbling may not be the ideal way of getting gymnasts into college for many, but for senior Ben Winkle it is a dream come true. Gymnastics is not an easy sport to master. The amount of strength...

Karr furthers gymnastics career

Megan McGuire, Online Editor January 14, 2015

Flying and launching their bodies through the air. Twisting and turning, using all the strength they have, hoping to stick the landing. Gymnastics is a difficult sport in which good gymnasts make their...

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