Olathe East’s Pauls is All-Metro gymnast of the year

Source: The Star

CHUCK FRANCE | Special to The Star

Annie Pauls won her first all-around title this year, leading Olathe East to its second consecutive state team title.

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It didn’t take Olathe East gymnastics coach Lydia Messenger long to see that Annie Pauls had the talent and drive to accomplish something special.

Even as a freshman, Pauls was a hard worker who wanted to be the best she could be. That meant winning a Kansas all-around state title.

It took until her senior year, but Pauls proved Messenger right by winning her first all-around title and leading the Hawks to their second consecutive team state title in November.

Pauls is The Star’s All-Metro gymnast of the year.

“It’s something she always wanted,” said Messenger, referring to Pauls’ all-around state title. “She just never gave up.”

Entering her senior year, Pauls had qualified for state three times but had seen her all-around title dreams washed away by mistakes. As a sophomore, she fell on the bars and finished eighth. As a junior, she fell off the beam and finished sixth.

Messenger said there were times that Pauls — ever the perfectionist — would get frustrated that she hadn’t accomplished her goal. But through it all, Messenger’s message remained the same.

“I just kept telling her to be patient,” Messenger said. “I knew it would happen for her.”

And this year, it did. Pauls, who also won the Sunflower League all-around title, became the Kansas all-around champion with a score of 36.5.

“This year, she finally pulled it all together,” Messenger said. “Her hard work and dedication finally paid off, and it was a great way to end her gymnastics career.”

submitted by TEREZ A. PAYLOR - 2008-12-17 23:46:01