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A week before the big event, Stephanie Etchells gazed into the mmnr and discovered she had come down mth a typical case of chicken pox Shannon Beaver later broke her arm. Bv Saturday, Etchells decided she could compete, Despite not havmg pracused the week before because of her Illness. she ended up wmmng a Silver medal on the balance beam, placing rrfth on the uneven bars and 13th in the ftoor nutme‘ The day of the meet Jill Gelams had completed programs on the uneven bars and balance beam, and was practising a second tum- blmg hne for her floor routine. when half-way through she went over on her foot and fractured her left ankle. “It Just kind of happened," she recalled the Monday after the event, "In a tumbling routine you can't really stop and I just fin, ished the second tumble (with a broken ankle). You can't stop the momentum of a tumble, you have to keep going." Yet, members managed to over. come these odds and walk home wnh two individual gold medals, one 1ndiv1dual silver, two individ. ual bronzes and six team golds. By the time the Ontario Federa- hon Secondary School Athletic Amocmuon 40FSAA) tournament was over, the team had exper- lenced a case of chicken pox, a broken arm. a broken ankle and broken nbs, PAGE as . WATERLOO CW. WENSDAY APRIL Mr, I“ Sports Chroniige Star! A tremendous season for Water, loo Clollegiate's gymnastic team could have ended disappointingly Saturday. Injuries couldn’t keep team from meet Wendy Seyntiite om; "the“:umbnng line was Lynda Newkirk had another tough tale. She was performing on the beam when she fell and broke a rib. Team coach Kaarina Tulisalo later said that Newkirk had never experienced problems with the doomed move before. Back at school on Monday, she managed to hobble through the halls and students helped her out by carrying her books. She said both team mates and her family were being extremely supportive, The fracture hasn't influenced her decision to join a gymnastic team when she enrolls in univer, sity this September. “Linda's tall was really tough," Tulisalo said. "But she got back up there and rutiahed competing. I was so proud to see her back up there." Tulisalo said the week-long list of bad circumstances was basical ly a fluke for the team "but it just showed how strong the kids are and morale is still excellent," The WCI team has never exper- ienced so many setbacks in one week before "although we have had a couple of really serious injuries over the last couple of years involving knees" over, Gelanis knew something was wrong - her fears were later confirmed by a sports therapist at the meet. Gelanis followed the advice of the therapist to have the joint X-rayed at hospital and before the layeaxold gymnast knew it, doctors were placing her in a boot-sized cast. "lt was just" great to see the team deal with (the setbacks) and go on with the competition." “It really was too bad because the floor is my favorite rotation," Gelanis said. Jill Elihu comma at the provincial mall“ tournament 5aturday down a a fractured ankle. The team waa plagued by modleal prawn, yet won tout lndlvldual Mala and alx loam golds. Immu-