THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 2, 1996 TAG: 9601310167
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
WITH ITS FUTURE in limbo, the Churchland gymnastics team is preparing for what could be its final competition.
The Southeastern District regular season concluded Tuesday and the district meet is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. next Tuesday at Western Branch High School.
``We're uncertain about what will happen when Churchland moves into the Eastern District next year,'' said Truckers coach Joe Bystrom, the dean of gymnastics coaches in the Southeastern and a coach since the inception of the sport. He has the only team in Portsmouth.
The Eastern District schools do not have gymnastics. No decision has been reached on whether Churchland will continue to have a team.
``I know the other Southeastern District teams would like us to continue participating with them,'' Bystrom said. ``Possibly we could get a ruling from the Virginia High School League that would allow us to compete with them.''
Presently, only four schools in the Southeastern have teams - Churchland, Great Bridge, Deep Creek and Western Branch. Hickory is expected to have a team when it joins the Southeastern next year. Neither of the two Suffolk schools joining the league have gymnastics.
Churchland probably has only one prospect for a berth in the regional. Freshman Ashley Eickhoff is a district contender on bars and floor and possibly could be an all-around qualifier.
Bystrom feels Eickhoff has the potential to be the school's first state qualifier.
``Through injuries and ineligibility we are down to only seven on the squad,'' Bystrom said. The Truckers started the season with 15.
``The district meet should be a battle between Great Bridge and Deep Creek,'' said Bystrom. Great Bridge is the defending champion.
Deep Creek's Melissa Suter is regarded as the individual favorite. ILLUSTRATION: GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTICS
Joe Bystrom
Churchland girls gymnastics coach
by CNB