A swift glance at the Minot High gymnastics roster wouldn't trigger the notion of a team that's garnered four consecutive state championships.
The Majettes have just five bodies heading into tonight's season opener at The Fargo Invite, but the meager numbers aren't completely foreign to the West Region power.
Returning state runner-up in the beam Samantha Huether believes the names on the roster will compensate for the lack of numbers.
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Then eighth-grader Hannah Werchau competes in a meet last season. Werchau is one of just five active gymnasts on the Majettes’ roster.
"We have a lot of quality instead of quantity," Huether said. "We have a lot of young girls who'll be able to fill in a few gaps for us."
Minot, which lost mainstays Misha Taylor, Paige Collins and Payton Ringoen to graduation, was also dealt an early-season blow when freshman Savannah Fix had knee surgery.
With Fix sidelined, Minot will look to get the most out of Huether, Stephanie Huether, Madison Reiter, Jenna Breuer and Hannah Werchau.
Seventh-year coach Robbie Werchau believes her unit is capable of claiming a fifth straight state title if her squad is consistent in all four phases (vault, bars, beam and floor).
"(Stephanie) Huether, Samantha's sister, is also very consistent," Werchau said of the sophomore. "(Madison) Reiter and (Jenna) Breuer are also high-quality."
Werchau, a freshman, could also vie for a medal this season.
"She's pretty strong on the bars and beam," coach Werchau said. "If she hits she could finish high."
The Majettes believe Dickinson and Bismarc''k will also contend in the West Region. Last season Minot clipped Dickinson for the team title.
"(Dickinson) is usually pretty good," noted Werchau, who also runs club teams in Minot. "The west seems to be a little stronger than the teams from the east, but we'll find out soon."
Minot's first home meet is January 4 against Grand Forks and Mandan.