POULSBO — It’s been an interesting road for Kingston and North Kitsap’s prep gymnastics teams.

During the course of the past decade, the teams have combined and have split, re-merged and then split again. Both schools’ coaches, Viking head coach Kris Goodfellow and Buccaneer head coach Sheila Moore, coached together at North Kitsap before Kingston High School opened in 2007.

Since 2010, the schools have operated as separate teams, head coaches from both schools feel confident in building their sport.

With the purchase of gymnastics equipment from the North Kitsap School District two years ago, the schools have the capability to practice in their off-site location at Breidablik Elementary School.

In their opening match of the season on Dec. 16 at Breidablik, the teams competed in four events, testing their poise, strength, agility and flexibility.

“Kingston is a good team,” Goodfellow said.

“They’ve got some great teammates and it’s really cool to see their program grow. But it’s nice to see both programs so large. There’s a lot of interest in gymnastics. Of course, I want to help build their team. That helps us too.”

Kingston defeated North Kitsap 1-0 in the meet. Goodfellow and Moore agree they have some work to do during winter break to prepare for competitions in January and the sub-district meet the first week of February.

“We use the first meet of the season as a way to set the bar and get a base line,” Goodfellow said. “From here, we’ll break down ways to improve the score. It’s all on them how much they want to put into it, but the girls are pretty motivated to work.”

Goodfellow, who has coached the Vikings for nearly 20 years, has one of her largest teams this season. With a total of 38 members, half of them new to the sport, she’s got her work cut out for her, she said.

“Coming off [the Olympic Games], we always seem to pull in more girls,” Goodfellow said. “They’re looking to Simone Biles for inspiration … This year, we had an amazing response with more than 40 girls turning out.”

Biles, the U.S. 2016 Olympic individual all-around gold medalist, and other experienced gymnasts make the sport look easy. Goodfellow said the sport is anything but easy.

“A lot of it is strength, timing and dedication. But any girl who wants to show up [and] work hard … will always have a spot,” she said.

Her gymnasts have been working hard “and this looks to be a very promising year with lots of potential for growth in the team.”

The 2016-17 season is also the first season the Vikingss have had an assistant manager. Kristine Bacon, Kingston graduate and team manager of the Buccaneers, is assisting the Vikings this year.

Returning state-ranked gymnast junior Cassidy Cloward “looks strong,” Goodfellow said. Joining her this year with post-season potential are Diana “Junko” Ketch, Rachel Lehmann, Emily Langford and Paige Wickens

“These five girls should make a strong core for our team,” she said.

Other stand-out returners are senior team captains Bethany Cleaver and Abby Ryan.

Ryan, who started gymnastics in her freshman year, said the team has really bonded.

“I’m mostly trying to polish things this season and get better on the beam,” she said. Though she scored a 6.8 on the beam Dec. 16, she was happy — she didn’t fall.

Ryan, a cross country and track athlete, said the sport of gymnastics “is about a whole lot of falling and getting back up.”

“It’s mind over matter, 100 percent,” she said.

For others, like freshman Dylan Braund, this is the very first season.

“It’s kind of terrifying, then exciting,” Braund said. “But you just gotta go through it and push it out of your head … For me, I didn’t want to sit on the couch all winter. And I like trying new things.”

Though not all gymnasts come in with experience, Goodfellow said, if they’re strong in dance they’ll be fairly successful with the program. However, she said many other team members are active in other sports, which increases their strength and stamina. Some team members perform with Kitsap Children’s Musical Theatre.

Goodfellow — an NKHS gymnast in 1985 — has been working with the team on their individual floor choreography, while incorporating moves such as the 180-degree split, leap, dance pass, and tumble. She specializes in custom routines pertaining to the strengths of each athlete.

“They have to be brave and strong, especially on beam,” she said. “It’s probably the scariest because its high and narrow. And look at what they’re wearing — in an age that self esteem and confidence probably isn’t high for girls, they’re judged subjectively. It’s tough.”

Goodfellow acknowledges the teams’ attributes.

“These girls work really hard,” she said. “But they have fun and that’s the biggest thing.”

For 14-year-old freshman club gymnast, Junko Kaiko, the sport is a way to calm down and take her mind off things.

“It’s a happy place,” she said. “It’s like flying.”