Not only did Sela Fadness and Sabrina Snater compete at the varsity level of gymnastics for the first time this season, they’ll also be competing at the class ‘A’ state meet for the first time this Friday at the University of Minnesota Sports Pavillion at 11 a.m.

Fadness, a seventh grader, will compete in the all-around competition and the vault, and Snater, a junior, will compete in the floor and the bars.

“We knew at the beginning of the season they had a real good opportunity to get to state but they had work to be done to make sure they had a little bit of a cushion going into sections so we could make it even if we weren’t at our best,” said Austin head gymnastics coach Mark Raymond. “If you make it to this point you’re one of about twenty some girls.”

Although they are four grades apart in school, the two gymnasts are familiar with each other as they have competed on the same YMCA teams for the past four years. Snater is thrilled with the chance to compete against the state’s best with her longtime teammate.

“We’re really excited to be able to go together,” she said. “It’s gonna be fun. It’s a really big honor. I’ve gotten a lot of congratulations at the high school for making it to state and she’s got six years ahead of her at state.”

Fadness is pumped up and hopes to learn a lot about state for future competitions on Friday.

“I kind of was expecting (to go to state) but I was surprised by how I excited I am for it,” she said. “It’s gonna be an experience for us because we both have next year to improve. We’re just looking to go in and have some fun.”

Raymond said both athletes were a great addition to the Packers this season. They did a good job of taking instructions, adding difficulty to their routines and cleaning some things up.

“Sela’s done a nice job of taking care of the mental components of gymnastics. She was ready to compete at all levels and it really worked out well,” Raymond said. “Sabrina’s been a great addition. She’s really kind of solidified the top end our rotation and she’s a very consistent performer.”

Snater just missed qualifying for the all-around competition as she had a rough day on the beam at the section meet. In fact all but two of the all-around scores Snater had this season would’ve won the section.

It’s quite rare for a seventh grader to go to state, but Raymond isn’t shocked by Fadness’s progress. He remembered two seventh graders competed at last year’s state meet.

“Girls are at their physical best as far as strength to weight goes in their seventh, eighth and ninth grade years,” Raymond said. “Sometimes when they’re really skilled it just comes down to mental strength.”

The experience will be a new one for gymnasts from around the state will be in the Pavilion after being held in Roy Wilkens Auditorium for the past 25 years.