Novi High School Varsity Gymnastics 2025 Winter Season Recap: Building Confidence and Consistency
The 2025 winter gymnastics season at Novi High School proved to be a year of growth, determination, and exciting progress for the varsity gymnastics team. Under the guidance of Head Coach Leslie Bowers, the team overcame early-season struggles and developed a resilient mindset, setting a strong foundation for the future.
Leadership and Key Contributors Drive Team Success
Coach Bowers highlighted the critical role played by her senior and junior captains in the team’s success this year. Senior captain Kira Kozlowski stood out as a key contributor, competing as an all-around athlete at every competition and consistently delivering strong performances. Kozlowski not only helped elevate the team’s scores throughout the season but also qualified individually for the State championships on beam and floor. At the State level, she placed an impressive 9th on the floor in Division 1, showcasing her skill on one of the biggest stages.
Junior captain Cate Beardsley also made a major impact. Like Kira, Cate was an all-around competitor who brought consistency and dependable leadership every time she stepped on the floor. “Her leadership helped the team at every competition,” said Coach Bowers, emphasizing the importance of her steady presence during high-pressure meets.
Additionally, freshman Audrey Harris provided a notable boost to the team’s floor scores. Initially competing in only two events, Audrey grew into an all-around competitor by season’s end, contributing valuable points on all four apparatuses. Her consistent performances were a bright spot and a promising sign for Novi’s future.
Season Progress: From Slow Start to Significant Improvement
Coach Bowers described the season as overall positive, noting the team started off a bit slowly but gradually gained momentum. “From our first meet of the season to our last dual meet, our team score improved by 6.15 points,” she said in gymnastics, where every tenth of a point matters, that kind of progress is significant.
The improvement was not just in scores, but in the team’s confidence and belief in their ability to compete against strong programs. Early in the season, the team viewed some opponents as nearly untouchable. However, after scoring a team high at the JC Invitational and again at the final dual meet, the team began to see themselves as legitimate contenders.
“That shift in mindset was huge,” Coach Bowers explained. “They saw themselves as truly in the mix for qualifying for states as a team.” While the team just missed qualifying, that near-miss only fueled their determination to return next year stronger than ever.
Growth and Development of Key Players
Throughout the season, several gymnasts stepped up and grew into bigger roles. Freshman Audrey Harris’s evolution into an all-around competitor was a standout development. Starting with just two events, her progression to competing on all four apparatuses showed both her work ethic and natural talent.
Junior Katie Perrine also emerged as a reliable scorer on vault, beam, and floor. Coach Bowers praised Katie’s determination to improve and noted that the team consistently counted on her scores during meets. Her growth into a solid all-around contributor was an encouraging sign of the team’s depth.
Handling Challenges with a Positive Attitude
Despite the season’s progress, the team faced challenges including injuries, tough losses, and the disappointment of narrowly missing state qualification. Coach Bowers acknowledged the team’s positive attitude in the face of adversity.
“It was disappointing for them not to qualify for states,” she admitted, “especially since some mistakes at regionals cost us some big scores.” However, rather than being discouraged, the team used that experience as motivation. “That loss made them determined to work hard in the offseason and come ready to win next year,” she said.
This resilience and focus on improvement a hallmarks of Coach Bowers’ program and a promising sign for the team’s continued success.
Senior Leadership Sets the Tone
The team’s two seniors, Kira Kozlowski and Natasha Gedeon, were vital to the program’s leadership and energy. Kira served as the anchor, performing consistently and leading by example with poise. Natasha, although not always competing in every event, demonstrated hard work and determination to improve. Her relentless effort and encouragement for teammates made her a positive force both on and off the competition floor.
Coach Bowers highlighted Natasha’s work ethic: “She worked hard to be included in our lineup and by the end of the season was contributing valuable scores.” The leadership and energy from these seniors created a supportive team atmosphere and helped guide younger gymnasts throughout the season.
Looking Ahead: Building on a Strong Foundation
With only two seniors graduating, Novi returns the majority of its roster, including many gymnasts poised to take on larger roles. Coach Bowers expressed excitement about the team’s potential heading into next season.
“I’m really looking forward to where we left off,” she said. “A lot of our progress this year was mental—getting the team to realize they have the skill and talent to compete against the top teams was a big win.”
The team will return 10 gymnasts, including rising sophomores with raw talent who did not compete regularly this past season but have the potential to make significant contributions. Adding incoming freshmen will also help bolster the team’s depth.
Coach Bowers is optimistic that the combination of experience and fresh talent will create a competitive, confident squad for the upcoming season.
Offseason Focus: Conditioning and Skill Upgrades
During the offseason, the focus will be on staying conditioned and upgrading skills. Maintaining physical fitness and building on technical proficiency are key goals to prepare the team for the challenges of next season.
By emphasizing these areas, Coach Bowers hopes to build on the gains made this year and continue to push the team toward new achievements.
Where to Follow the Team
While detailed stats were not provided, fans and followers can stay updated on Novi Gymnastics’ progress through the school’s athletic website and local sports coverage.
Conclusion
The 2025 winter gymnastics season at Novi High School marked a year of meaningful growth, confidence-building, and strong leadership. Senior captain Kira Kozlowski’s standout performances and the steady contributions of junior captain Cate Beardsley laid the foundation for the team’s success. Freshman Audrey Harris’s development into an all-around competitor and the emergence of other rising gymnasts signal a bright future.
Though just missing the state team qualification was disappointing, the experience fueled the team’s determination to come back stronger. With a mostly returning roster and renewed mental toughness, Novi Gymnastics looks poised for an exciting and competitive 2026 season.
Coach Leslie Bowers and her team have clearly set a path toward ongoing improvement—one score, one routine, and one confident step at a time.
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