By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
Although Sophia Ellsworth’s gymnastics career has drawn to a close, the Lady Panthers’ senior represented Wilmot Union High School well as a member of the Burlington combined squad.
Ellsworth, who is the sole member from Wilmot, ended her Southern Lakes Conference career with a first place finish in the floor exercise, followed by third best among teammates in Thursday’s WIAA Division 1 Sectional at Waukesha West.
The senior that also hurdles for the Panthers’ track team wanted to make her performance count at the Sectional.
“I plan to go out there and do my best, have fun, since it is my last year, and possibly my last meet,” Ellsworth said. “So I do not want to leave with regrets.”
While her squad did not advance to the state meet, she made a lasting impression on the program, according to first-year coach Andrea Hegemann.
Her leadership qualities yielded Ellsworth the role of team captain.
“Sophia is also a captain,” Hegemann said. “She has been a great leader and motivator for the younger girls.”
Through Ellsworth’s leadership, she has helped BBW to a top five ranking in Wisconsin as of last week, and extended the team’s streak of Southern Lakes Conference titles to seven.
“I like to lead by example, but if they need words of encouragement, then they can turn to me and I can help them out,” Ellsworth said.
Ellsworth can do more than lead, she posted personal bests of 9.45 in the floor exercise, 8.5 in the vault and a balance beam score of 8.3 her senior season.
“Sophia personally has contributed to varsity on vault, beam, and floor,” Hegemann said. “She has also won floor many times at our dual meets.”
The senior has been in gymnastics for a decade, seven at Kenosha’s Scamps Gymnastics and three for Gymnastics Factory in Grayslake, stated the floor exercise stands out above the rest.
“Floor has always been my favorite event, from when I was little, it is most to fun to me,” Ellsworth said. “So I like to practice it the most and go all out on it.”
The balance beam is most difficult for Ellsworth, noting it takes tremendous poise.
“It is definitely getting over the fact that there is only four inches and I really have to focus on staying on, and staying tight, so I don’t fall off,” said Ellsworth.
Ellsworth’s athletic career is not limited to gymnastics, with more than a handful of top five finishes on Wilmot’s track team, and also expresses Panther pride as a member of the cheerleading squad.
As a junior, Ellsworth finished third in the 300-meter hurdles, registering a season-best time of 51.70 seconds at the Fort Invite May 1.
Ellsworth also finished fifth in a Tom Burger Invitational April 18, and was a contributed member of the 800-relay squad that took first in an April 14 SLC relay meet.
Her relay squad consisted of Rebecca Alter, Rachel Kostreva and Maddie Martin.
As she prepares for the track season, she will always remember her time as a member of Burlington/Badger/Wilmot gymnastics, citing her team’s state appearance as a sophomore.
Additionally, her time in gymnastics gave her an opportunity to meet new people, since she was the sole Wilmot representative.
But time will tell whether another Wilmot student can represent the school, Ellsworth said, noting younger students are a couple years away.