GUILDERLAND — It has been a long time since Guilderland has been a competitive team in Section II gymnastics.

This year the Dutch were dominant.

The Lady Dutch went through the season unbeaten, winning all eight of their dual meets. The most recent victory was against the top team from the last five years, Saratoga.
"We went through the regular season undefeated," said Guilderland Coach Brenda Goodknight. "I guess that makes us league champs. The Saratoga meet was a close meet. The girls did great. It’s definitely always good to have them at home. We did awesome. A couple of girls pulled through for us. Kristi Russell had been working on a vault but she stood it up. She kept her feet on the ground. I was excited for her."

Guilderland edged out Saratoga, 169.975 to 169.1 at the meet that was held on Feb. 1.
"We are the Suburban Council champions," Goodknight said. "I’m not sure the last time Guilderland won the league. One of the girls mentioned that there is a banner at the school. It’s been some time."

The Dutch last won the Section II title in 1999 and will be considered the favorite at the Section II meet in a couple of weeks.
"Saratoga was unbeaten for the previous five years," Goodknight said. "And Shaker won sectionals one of those years. We’ve not won one in quite a while. We’re definitely due."

Goodknight won a title as a Guilderland student and hopes to lead the team to another as coach.
"I won one in 1979," she said. "It was the Suburban Council and I was a freshman on the team. There were a lot more teams back then. But now it is what it is."

The Lady Dutch were excited to get the wins over Saratoga this season and clinch the league crown.
"They were really excited," Goodknight said. "This is an interesting group of kids. They are modest. They were shocked the first time, and they were not sure they had won. They were equally as surprised this time. They just do what they do best and not worry. They want to win, but they keep it in perspective."

Dana leads

The Lady Dutch have been led all season by Dana Goodknight, the coach’s daughter.

She has been the all-around winner in all the meets this season and is unbeaten in all disciplines — vault, floor, uneven bars, and balance beam.
"I don’t know what I can say," Coach Goodknight said. "She’s unbeaten in the all-around. I can’t complain. It definitely shows the hard work she’s put in. She’s been doing gymnastics since she was five. That’s a long time and it’s definitely paid off for her. The schedule is difficult for her. She ran through six meets in two weeks with club and high school. It’s a tough schedule for any athlete in any sport."

The demanding schedule will benefit Dana Goodknight in the long run as she prepares to compete in collegiate gymnastics. Though she has yet to make a decision, she has been accepted to Eastern Michigan University and the University of Alaska-Anchorage.

Goodknight is also looking at Southern Connecticut, the University of Rhode Island, Ball State, and Cornell.

Depth

Though Goodknight has led the Dutch this season, the depth of the team has also led to the success of the squad.

Five gymnasts have qualified for the all-around meet that takes place on Friday and is a precursor for the Section II meet on Feb. 15 at Shaker High School.

Jen Diana, Erika Pesta, Goodknight, Toni Whitbeck, and Alexa Patnaude will compete at the all-around on Friday. The rest of the team will compete at the junior-varsity championships the next day.
"A few of the girls missed qualifying for the all-around by less than a half a point," Brenda Goodknight said. "The rest of the team will compete at the J.V. Invitational instead."

Then it’s on to the sectional meet, where there is a team title but individuals move on to the state meet. Goodknight hopes that a number of her athletes do well and move on.
"I think we have a possibility of four or five qualifying," she said. "I’d be surprised if we had any more. It’s a lot of fun. The girls are working hard and learning. I’ll miss the three seniors. But the rest of the team can pick up the slack for me. This is a great bunch of kids.
"A lot of them are competing in their first varsity high school sport," Goodknight added. "It’s a big change for them. They’ve stepped up to the challenge. We do have a lot of potential on the team. They’ve had an incredible first year. They’ve done a lot of things and taken the year in stride."

Goodknight would like to see her gymnasts continue to succeed.
"I would absolutely love to win sectionals," the coach said. "I’m so pleased with the season so far. I can’t say it’s been bad at all. It would be great to win, but I want to get everybody to states."