VALPARAISO — For decades, the gymnastics team at Valparaiso has proven they deserve to stand at the top of the podium having earned 14 state, 24 regional and 25 sectional titles.
The Vikings’ success has sprung from the gymnasts’ willingness to buy into the program’s philosophy of commitment to their team and hard work to excel, head coach Becky Juergens said.
“We try to make small goals and they work hard to reach those smaller goals, with the ultimate goal of going to state,” said Juergens, who has been with the program for 43 years.
![]()
Valparaiso gymnasts Ione Skafish, Allison Rospond and Chloe
Ochman are prepared to bring their confidence to the mat at the
IHSAA Regional gymnastics meet this Saturday.
Grace Opinker, The Times
After finishing second to Crown Point at the Crown Point Sectional last weekend, Valpo is prepared to host a competitive regional beginning at noon on Saturday.
Like any other meet this season, Allison Rospond will start off her morning by eating a bagel and drinking a strawberry acai refresher from Starbucks. Once she arrives at the high school to warm up with her teammates, all seven girls will form a prayer circle and then cheer on each other — a newfound tradition for the Vikings.
Rospond's main goal on Saturday is to try her best and stay focused as it could potentially be the last gymnastics meet of her career.
"I've chosen not to continue gymnastics in college because it's a lot on my body," Rospond said. "Stepping away from it will be best for me physically, but I'm definitely going to miss seeing my teammates every day and having something to do."
Rospond competes in all four events: beam, floor, vault and uneven bars. Vault is her favorite event because she's discovered it's the least stressful, and she recently mastered her double twist.
The Vikings' second senior, Chloe Ochman, also competes in all four events, but finds beam to be her personal favorite because it comes natural to her.
Though Ochman hasn't yet decided if she will continue gymnastics past high school, making memories with her teammates is something she's not ready to let go of.
Ochman's gymnastics career began at age 2 when she would attend "Mommy and Me" classes. She realized how much she loved the sport in eighth grade after deciding to quit softball and steer her focus to the mat.
"I feel like it's a way of getting my mind off of everything," Ochman said. "I feel like just being good as something makes me feel good about myself."
Both Ochman and Rospond have been with Valpo's program the past four seasons and have helped lead their team to three state appearances and two state titles.
Ochman gives credit to former Vikings gymnast Gabi Grisafi, who won the all-around title at the state competition last season. Grisafi and Ochman grew up doing gymnastics together.
"She always pushes me to do my best," Ochman said about Grisafi. "She wasn't afraid to tell me what to fix. She was always supportive and caring."
Junior Ione Skafish has a similar feeling toward Ochman.
"I look up to Chloe because she works hard at every single practice and always makes sure everyone else is working hard too," Skafish said.
Skafish will take the tips she's learned from Ochman to help keep her team focused and consistent this weekend. As the only junior, Skafish has done a great job taking on a leadership role alongside Ochman and Rospond, Juergens said.
All three gymnasts are determined to work hard with their teammates to advance to state and potentially bring home a 15th state title for the school.
"It would be a great way to go out," Rospond said. "It would be the best possible outcome."
