Girls Gymnastics: West, Chesterton prepare for next step

Updated: February 13, 2012 7:40PM

It’s a familiar face at the helm of the Chesterton gymnastics’ program.

Lauren West, a 2003 Chesterton graduate and the school’s most successful gymnast, is in the middle of her first season as the Trojans’ head coach.

During her high school career, West won 10 state medals — including four titles. The end of high school was going to be the end of West’s gymnastics career — at least, that’s what she thought. West headed to Ball State University to pursue her elementary education major — not gymnastics. But it didn’t take long for those plans to change.

“I went to a few of their meets and thought I could still do it,” she said. “I missed competing. I wanted to be back in the gym, back in shape and back with teammates again.”

As a sophomore, West walked onto the team, and was offered a full scholarship after that season. For three more years, she competed for Ball State before graduation brought her back to the area as a fifth-grade teacher at Liberty Intermediate School.

Much like after high school, West again thought gymnastics was not part of her future. Once again she was wrong.

“I guess it’s just in your blood; you can’t get it out,” she said with a laugh. “I missed being part of the team atmosphere and working with the girls on gymnastics.”

West joined Kathy and Greg Wilburn’s staff at Chesterton as an assistant prior to last season. When the Wilburns stepped down, West was promoted to head coach.

With her twin sister, Leslie, as her assistant, West’s first challenge was dealing with an unexpectedly small roster. Of the 13 girls on Chesterton’s previous squad, four graduated, and five others did not return to the team. West began her coaching career with just eight gymnasts: four returners and four newcomers.

“That was disheartening; part of me took it personal,” she said. “There were nine girls that I wanted to build this team with, and over half didn’t come back. But the girls that are here have put their all into this. They’ve listened to me, and they’ve trusted me as a coach.”

Some of the traits that West had as an athlete have helped her transition into coaching.

“There are the certain athletes that can take teammates under their wing,” said Chesterton athletic director Garry Nallenweg. “Lauren was one of those athletes. She makes everyone around her better.”

West has brought a more laid-back approach to practice, something that sophomore Brandy

Tuzinski appreciates.

“Last year, we’d practice 10 routines in a row and it was stressful to get things done the first time around,” Tuzinski said. “This year, it’s more about quality over quantity. We’re not worried that, if we fall during our third routine, we have to start over from the beginning.”

That approach has led to plenty of success for Chesterton, whose only loss this season came against four-time state champion Valparaiso. The most recent coaches’ poll has the

Trojans fifth in the state — although West admits to not keeping track of those numbers.

“I try not to look at those,” she said. “I may look at other scores to see how we match up, but I just want to see that our girls are getting better. I’m still learning the little nuances of how to put together the best routine; that’s part of the struggle of being a first-year coach.”

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