Foreign exchange student makes impact on state championship gymnastics team | Sports


Léa performs her floor routine at a home meet. (File photo — Owatonna.com)
Owatonna has a long and storied history in gymnastics, but if you did not know anything about it before this season, you weren’t the only one.
kAm{é2[ 2 7@C6:8? 6I492?86 DEF56?E 7C@> q6=8:F>[ ;@:?65 E96 8J>?2DE:4D E62> E9:D J62C 27E6C 92G:?8 =:EE=6 4@>A6E:E:@? 6IA6C:6?46 😕 E96 DA@CE 2?5 ?@E @H:?8 E96 AC@8C2> 6G6? 6I:DE65] {:EE=6 5:5 D96 @H D96’5 36 A2CE @7 2 E62> H:??:?8 :ED 7:CDE DE2E6 E62> 492>A:@?D9:A 😕 AC@8C2> 9:DE@CJ]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mu@C6:8? 6I492?86 AC@8C2>k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmq67@C6 >@G:?8 E@ E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2E E96 DE2CE @7 E96 a_ac\ad D49@@= J62C[ {é2 =:G65 😕 q6=8:F> 2== 96C =:76] $96 564:565 E@ 6?8286 😕 E96 #@E2CJ *@FE9 tI492?86 AC@8C2>[ A2CE @7 #@E2CJ x?E6C?2E:@?2=]k^Am
kAm“x 7@F?5 @FE E92E E96C6 2C6 5:776C6?E AC@8C2>D E92E 2==@H A6@A=6 E@ DEF5J 23C@25[ 2?5 D@ x D:8?65 FA 7@C @?6 @7 E96 AC@8C2>D[” {é2 D2:5]k^Am
kAm$96 925 E96 @AE:@? E@ 8@ E@ 7:G6 5:776C6?E 4@F?EC:6D 2?5 6?565 FA 564:5:?8 36EH66? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D[ r2?252[ 2?5 pC86?E:?2] $96 H2D E96 @?6 @7 E96 7:CDE A6@A=6 E@ D:8? FA 7@C E96 AC@8C2> 2?5 E@ 4@>A=6E6 E96 A2A6CD 7@C :E[ D@ D96 H2D 23=6 E@ 49@@D6 96C 7:CDE 49@:46i E96 DE2E6D]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 {é2 😀 2 ;F?:@C 2E E96 ~H2E@??2 $6?:@C w:89 $49@@=[ D96 😀 E96 D2>6 286 2D E96 D6?:@CD 2?5 D96 8C25F2E65 😕 q6=8:F> =2DE J62C] ~H2E@??2 92D 4=2DD C6BF:C6>6?ED 7@C D6?:@CD 7@C 86EE:?8 :?E@ 4@==686D E92E {é2 5:5 ?@E 92G6 E@ A2CE2<6 :?]k^Am
kAm%96 EC2?D:E:@? E@ E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D H6?E AC6EEJ D>@@E9 7@C {é2[ 2D D96 DA@<6 7=F6?E t?8=:D9 5F6 E@ 96C 92G:?8 t?8=:D9\DA62<:?8 4=2DD6D 7@C E96 =2DE 7@FC J62CD 😕 q6=8:F>] qFE E96 EC2?D:E:@? 925 D@>6 ?682E:G6 2DA64ED E@ :E[ >@DE=J 4@>:?8 7C@> 9@>6D:46DD]k^Am
kAm“xE H2D AC6EEJ 62DJ[” {é2 D2:5 23@FE E96 EC2?D:E:@?] “%96 @?=J A2CE H2D E92E x >:DD65 >J 72>:=J 2 =@E 2?5 x 5:5?’E 6IA64E E92E 3642FD6 x H2D D@ 6I4:E65 E@ 4@>6 E92E x 5:5?’E C62=:K6 :E H2D 7@C 2 J62C 2?5 ?@E 7@C =:<6 E9C66 >@?E9D]”k^Am
kAm(92E >256 :E 62DJ 7@C {é2 E@ 4@A6 H:E9 E96 9@>6D:46DD H2D 96C E9C66 9@DE 72>:=:6D] %96J DFAA@CE65 96C 2?5 D96 DE:== DA6?E 2 =@E @7 E:>6 E2=<:?8 H:E9 96C 72>:=J G:2 A9@?6 42==D 2?5 E6IE:?8]k^Am
kAm“(6 DE:== E6IE 6249 @E96C AC6EEJ @7E6?[ E92E’D 9@H x 562= H:E9 :E[” {é2 D2:5 23@FE 36:?8 9@>6 D:4<]k^Am

Léa is recognized along with her teammates for winning the Class AA state team championship in a celebration ceremony at the high school. (Lucas Dittmer – Owatonna.com)
kAmkDEC@?8m#6EFC? E@ 8J>?2DE:4Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp7E6C A2CE:4:A2E:?8 😕 4C@DD 4@F?ECJ 😕 E96 72== 7@C ~H2E@??2[ {é2 564:565 E@ ECJ 8J>?2DE:4D E9:D H:?E6C DA@CED D62D@?]k^Am
kAm“x 5:5 8J>?2DE:4D H96? x H2D J@F?86C[ F?E:= x H2D g[ 2?5 x’G6 366? 5@:?8 24C@32E:4 8J>?2DE:4D[ H9:49 😀 ?@E E96 D2>6 2E 2==[ 7@C E96 A2DE 7@FC J62CD[” D96 D2:5] “x H2?E65 E@ 5@ 8J>?2DE:4D[ 3642FD6 x 6H E96 DA@CE[ 2?5 x ;FDE E9@F89E :E H@F=5 36 7F? E@ ;@:? E96 E62>]”k^Am
kAm“%9:D 😀 96C 7:CDE D<:5 2C@F?5[” ~H2E@??2 9625 4@249 tG2? |@6 D2:5 23@FE {é2] “xE D@F?565 =:<6 D96 925 >2J36 5@?6 2 =:EE=6 3:E @7 8J>?2DE:4D H2J 324<[ 3FE ?@E9:?8 2E 4@>A6E:E:@? =6G6= @C 2?JE9:?8 =:<6 E92E]”k^Am
kAm{é2 7:CDE 3642>6 @H=658623=6 23@FE E96 D49@@=’D 8J>?2DE:4D AC@8C2> 7C@> ~H2E@??2 D6?:@C 42AE2:? y@K:6 y@9?D@?[ 2D E96 EH@ H6C6 😕 E96 D2>6 ADJ49@=@8J 4=2DD]k^Am
kAm“%92?
kAm{é2 925 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ ;@:? E96 4966C E62> 2E ~H2E@??2[ 3FE 5:5 ?@E 5F6 E@ E96 AC@8C2> 92G:?8 ECJ@FED 7@C E96 72== D62D@? 😕 E96 DAC:?8] $96 H2D @776C65 E@ ECJ @FE 7@C E96 H:?E6C D62D@? 3FE 564=:?65 5F6 E@ 96C H2?E:?8 E@ ECJ 8J>?2DE:4D]k^Am
kAm$@ D96 6?565 FA @? E96 8J>?2DE:4D E62>[ 2?5 E96 wFD<:6D H6=4@>65 96C H:E9 @A6? 2C>D]k^Am
kAm“%96J H6C6 D@ H6=4@>:?8] %96J 42>6 E@ >6[ 2?5 E96J H6C6 =:<6[ ‘xE’D ?:46 E@ >66E J@F[’” D96 D2:5] “%96J H6C6 D@ H6=4@>:?8[ 2?5 x =@G6 E96> D@ >F49[ 3642FD6 x 5:5?’E 766= =:<6 x H2D 2? 6I492?86 DEF56?E E92E @?=J 42>6 7@C 2 J62C] x C62==J 76=E =:<6 A2CE @7 E96 E62>]”k^Am
kAm“$96 42>6 😕 2?5 H2D?’E C62==J DFC6 9@H >F49 D96’5 36 23=6 E@ 5@[ 3FE H6 ;FDE 6>3C2465 9@H H6 4@24965[ H9:49 😀 E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E E96J 2C6 23=6 E@ DF44665 ?@ >2EE6C H92E[” |@6 D2:5] “$96 AC24E:465 6G6CJ 52J H:E9 FD[ 9F?8 @FE H:E9 FD[ 4@>A6E65 7@C FD 😕 >F=E:A=6 6G6?ED[ 2?5 5:5 2 8C62E ;@3 2== J62C =@?8]”k^Am
kAm{é2 EC:65 2== @7 E96 7@FC 6G6?ED 😕 E96 DA@CE H96? D96 7:CDE ;@:?65 E96 E62>[ 2?5 6?565 FA 4@>A6E:?8 😕 G2F=E 2?5 7=@@C] $96 AC24E:465 E9C@F89@FE E96 J62C @? E96 362> 3FE 5:5 ?@E 4@>A6E6 😕 E96 6G6?E] $96 EC:65 5@:?8 32CD[ 3FE D96 7@F?5 @FE E92E :E H2D?’E D@>6E9:?8 D96 H2D :?E6C6DE65 😕 5@:?8]k^Am

Léa poses after her vault routine at a home meet this season. (File photo — Owatonna.com)
kAm“x AC24E:465 2 76H E:>6D 2?5 E96? x H2D =:<6 ‘}@A6[ E92E’D ?@E 7@C >6[’” {é2 D2:5 23@FE E96 32CD]k^Am
kAm(96? 2D<65 H92E 96C 72G@C:E6 6G6?E 😕 E96 DA@CE H2D[ D96 D2:5 :E H2D 7=@@C[ 3FE E96 G2F=E 😀 62D:6C E@ 5@ E92? 2 7=@@C C@FE:?6]k^Am
kAm“xE’D C62==J 5:77:4F=E[” |@6 D2:5 23@FE ;@:?:?8 E96 DA@CE H:E9 92G:?8 =:EE=6 @C ?@ AC:@C 6IA6C:6?46] “%96C6’D E9:?8D H96C6 J@F’G6 8@E E@ <:?5 @7 D6EE=6 @? ?@E 36:?8 23=6 E@ 5@ >2J36 27E6C J@F EC:65 2?5 E96? @E96C E9:?8D E92E J@F 42? C62==J AFD9 E9C@F89 2?5 86E[ 6DA64:2==J 😕 2 D9@CE 2>@F?E @7 E:>6] (:E9 @?=J 92G:?8 E9C66 >@?E9D[ H6 C62==J 925 E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E H6 925 96C FA 2?5 CF??:?8 2?5 C625J E@ 8@ E@ 5@ E96 C@FE:?6D E92E D96 42? 5@]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m$E2E6 492>A:@?Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am

Léa stands with the Huskies during the Parade of Champions before the state gymnastics meet. (Lucas Dittmer — Owatonna.com)
kAm(9:=6 D96 5:5 ?@E 4@>A6E6 2E E96 r=2DD pp DE2E6 492>A:@?D9:A >66E @? uC:52J[ u63] a`[ D96 H2D H:E9 E96 E62> E9C@F89@FE E96 H9@=6 ?:89E DFAA@CE:?8 E96>]k^Am
kAm$:?46 ~H2E@??2’D 4@2496D 5@ ?@E E6== E96:C 8J>?2DED E96 E62> D4@C6D E9C@F89@FE >66ED 2?5 :?\36EH66? 6G6?ED[ E96 E62> 5:5 ?@E @H 9@H 4=@D6 E96J H6C6 H:E9 E96 @E96C E62>D 😕 E96 4@>A6E:E:@?]k^Am
kAm{é2 ?@E65 E92E :E’D 36EE6C 7@C E96 8J>?2DED E@ ?@E @H E96 D4@C6D 3642FD6 :7 E96 E62> 😀 E@@ 4=@D6 😕 E96 E62> D4@C6D H:E9 2?@E96C E62> 7@C 7:CDE A=246[ E96J >:89E ECJ E@ 5@ >@C6 E@ 86E 2 9:896C D4@C6 2?5 @G6CE9:?< :E]k^Am
kAm“x u66= =:<6 ?@E @H:?8 E96 D4@C6D 8:G6D FD E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 5@ @FC 36DE 6G6CJ E:>6[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 E96 E62> 925 2? :562 E92E E96J H@? DE2E6 5F6 E@ E96 A2C6?ED 36:?8 6I4:E65 27E6C E96 32=2?46 362> 6G6?E[ H9:49 H2D E96 wFD<:6D’ =2DE 6G6?E @7 E96 >66E[ E96J DE:== 5:5?’E @H 7@C DFC6 @?46 E96 A=246 H:??6CD H6C6 2??@F?465]k^Am
kAmp=@?8 H:E9 E96 @E96C D6G6? E62>D E92E 4@>A6E65 2E E96 DE2E6 4@>A6E:E:@?[ E96 wFD<:6D D2E @? E96 7=@@C :?D:56 E96 #@J (:=<:?D pF5:E@C:F> 2?5 H2:E65 7@C E96 H:??6C E@ 36 2??@F?465] ~?46 E96 }6H !C28F6 %C@;2?D H6C6 2??@F?465 2D E96 D64@?5\A=246 7:?:D96C[ {é2’D 7246 =:E FA 2D D96 C62=:K65 E92E E96 wFD<:6D H@? E96 DE2E6 E:E=6 7@C DFC6]k^Am
kAm%96J :?5665 5:5 2D E96J H@? E96 7:CDE DE2E6 E62> E:E=6 😕 D49@@= 9:DE@CJ]k^Am

Léa (middle) becomes ecstatic once realizing that the Huskies won the Class AA state championship. (Lucas Dittmer — Owatonna.com)
kAm“x’> ;FDE D@ AC@F5 @7 E96> 3642FD6 x D66 E96> AC24E:4:?8 6G6CJ52J[” {é2 D2:5 23@FE 96C E62>] “xE’D ;FDE 2>2K:?8 E@ D66 E9:D 244@>A=:D9>6?E @7 2== E96 H@C< E96J 5:5 E9:D J62C]”k^Am
kAm(96? 2D<65 H92E D96 H:== C6>6>36C >@DE 23@FE 96C E:>6 @? E96 ~H2E@??2 8J>?2DE:4D E62> E9:D J62C[ {é2 D2:5 E96 E62> 3642FD6 :E H2D >@C6 E92? ;FDE 2 E62> E@ 96C]k^Am
kAm“x >62? H6 D66 6249 @E96C 6G6CJ 52J 7@C E9C66 9@FCD 2?5 D@ :E C62==J 3642>6 2 72>:=J 7@C >6 2?5 E96J H6C6 D@ ?:46 2?5 D@ H6=4@>:?8[” D96 D2:5 23@FE E96 wFD<:6D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m$@>6E9:?8 ?6Hk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp7E6C 96C E:>6 2E ~H2E@??2[ {é2 😀 A=2??:?8 @? 8@:?8 E@ 4@==686 😕 E96 }6E96C=2?5D[ H96C6 D96 H:== >2;@C 😕 !DJ49@=@8J]k^Am
kAmq67@C6 C6EFC?:?8 E@ tFC@A6[ D96 😀 D6E E@ A2CE2<6 😕 96C E9:C5 DA@CE 2E ~H2E@??2 😕 E96 DAC:?8] $96 H:== A=2J @? E96 D@7E32== E62>[ H9:49 😀 2 DA@CE E92E D96 92D ?@ 6IA6C:6?46 :?]k^Am
kAm“(6 5@?’E 92G6 E92E DA@CE 😕 q6=8:F>[ D@ :E H:== 36 ?6H 7@C >6 3FE x’> 6I4:E65 E@ ECJ :E[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 {é2 H2D ?6H E@ 4C@DD 4@F?ECJ H96? D96 4@>A6E65 😕 E96 72== 7@C E96 wFD<:6D[ D96 4@>A6E65 😕 EC24< 2?5 7:6=5 😕 q6=8:F> 2?5 925 6IA6C:6?46 😕 CF??:?8] (:E9 96C 92G:?8 =:EE=6 6IA6C:6?46 😕 8J>?2DE:4D 367@C6 ;@:?:?8 E96 6G6?EF2= DE2E6\492>A:@? E62>[ D@7E32== H:== 36 2? 6?E:C6=J ?6H 6IA6C:6?46 7@C 96C]k^Am
kAm“|J >@> E@=5 >6 E92E x D9@F=5 ECJ 2 ?6H DA@CE D2:5] “(96? x H2D 9@>6 x 5:5 EC24<[ D@ 4C@DD 4@F?ECJ H2D <:?5 @7 E96 D2>6 2?5 x 5:5 8J>?2DE:4D H96? x H2D J@F?86C D@ x 6H 23@FE :E E@@] $@7E32== H2D E@E2==J 6H 7@C >6 D@ x H2D =:<6 ‘@<2J =6E’D ECJ D@>6E9:?8 ?6H[ E92E’D H9J x’> 96C6 D@ =6E’D 5@ :E]’”k^Am
link