Mt. Horeb Gymnastics History

When girls were finally given the chance to compete in interscholastic athletics more than three decades ago, gymnastics was one of the first athletic opportunities available to high school girls in Wisconsin.

The WIAA began sanctioning a state gymnastics meet in 1971, making it the second-oldest girls sport in the state (just a year behind swimming). Since then, Mt. Horeb has been represented at the State meet 21 times, more than any other school in Wisconsin. The Vikings have claimed four titles, second-best in state history, and matching girls cross country for the most ever in school history.

The program traces its roots as far back as the late 1960s, when Sharon Theobald convinced the school board to spend $1,000 on gymnastics equipment so that she could offer the sport in grade-school physical education classes. Carol Vilberg followed suit with her high school phy. ed. classes in 1968-69, and started up a squad in the Girls Athletic Association, an intramural organization. Girls teams were required to have at least two years of GAA experience before being allowed to participate in interscholastic competition.

Mt. Horeb fielded its first official team in 1970-71, coached by Sharon Koessl. Sandy Drobnick took over in the fall of 1971, and coached the first Viking at the state meet in 1972 (Jill Haag).

Drobnick coached for three years before Susan & David Koller took over in the fall of 1974 and made their last name synonymous with Mt. Horeb gymnastics. They won their first state championship in 1978, the year the WIAA went to a two-division format, and won back-to-back titles in 1983 and 1984 and a fourth championship in 1993. Their teams won the Division 2 sectional and qualified for the State meet in all but two years of their coaching career.

Mt. Horeb gymnasts have won 10 individual state titles across all four events, though the Vikings have yet to boast an all-around champ. Mt. Horeb has had 49 different girls qualify for State in 212 events. Gail Brunner holds the record for most state appearances with 18, followed by Amanda Kurth’s 16. Tina Ritschard (15), Christa Bollig (11), Amanda Haag (11), Becca Nause-Osthoff (11), Jessica Sale (10), Katie Spanel (10), Martha Koller (9) and Maddy Nause-Osthoff (8) round out the top ten.

Mt. Horeb gymnasts have won more than 90 State medals, led by Kurth’s 13 and Brunner’s 12 (which included four silvers).

 

More information on history and records to come ...
*WIAA State Championships performances
*Individual State Champions
*Individual State Medalists
*Individual State Qualifiers
*School and Individual Records
*and more ...