ABOVE: Front row, from left: Hannah Fisher, Natalie Griffey, Cierra Farnum, Lauren Elliott, Adriana Leiding, Kyla Benck, Payton Owens, Amelia Anderson, Kaydence Weber. Back row, from left: Lillie Schultz, Nola Thedens, Ava Thate, Adriana Knafla, Jadyn Montgomery, Avery Steuber, Ellie Perkins.

FAIRMONT — Coming off a 15-5 season, the Martin County Area Magic gymnastics squad is aiming for a perfect score of 130 this season.

Magic head coach Annie Post states that based on the current roster, it is completely within the realm of possibility.

In her fourth year as head coach, Post is confident in her squad, citing that further development is the aim for this season as they look to improve on the prior season’s record. Post is hoping to improve on last year’s record and see the team make an even deeper postseason run in the 2024-2025 season.

“We just probably need to build on what we have already,” said Post. “We have a really good base for everyone, but now it’s like putting together all of our skills that we’ve used prior, and making sure that it fits within our scoring guidelines too. So that’s been a really big project this season for all the girls.”

The team is relying on its strength of leadership heading into its first meet of the year citing its three captains in junior captain Nola Thedens, Ava Thate and Adriana Canofla.

“I do see really great leaders in our gym with all of our captains,” said Post. “They really push the girls to do more, and work harder in the gym, and it’s been really fun to see them be great captains.”

The road to scoring 130 will be a challenging one for the squad, requiring every gymnast to contribute to the best of their ability in the process of attaining that goal.

“I definitely think it’s attainable,” said Post. “We just have to hit every event, which is hard to do sometimes, and then just every girl on the first day of practice had their own individual goals written down, so crossing those off the list will be good.”

According to Post, Lillie Schultz is going to be key in the team’s success this season. As one of the top varsity performers, Schultz is expected to contribute solid numbers for the overall scoring this year, especially going up against New Ulm and Mankato West.

With an optimistic outlook on the season the Magic are pushing to develop their routines and skill sets heading into their first meet of the season against Jackson County Central at 6 p.m. Thursday in Fairmont.