Ashley Niebrugge had been battling hamstring problems since her freshman year at Columbus North, and when she strained her right hamstring again the first gymnastics practice of her junior season, she tried a radical approach.
Niebrugge, whose best event is the floor exercise, began doing all of her leaps off her left leg.
“It took a little bit to figure out the coordination because it’s just completely backwards,” Niebrugge said. “But after a few tries, you get used to it and then just split bigger each time.”
The results have been beneficial for Niebrugge. She has scored as high as 9.55 on the floor, which is tied for 14th-best in the state.
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“This year, after she first injured (the hamstring) after our first practice, we decided that it might be best to do all her leaps and jumps on floor with her opposite leg,” said assistant coach Deshawn Kelley, who works with North gymnasts on their floor routines. “So that has taken a lot of coordination on Ashley’s part because I don’t think anyone else would have been able to do that. It switched everything, and she’s gotten full credit, full split and all her bonus (points) on floor, even though she had to switch legs.”
Niebrugge began taking gymnastics nine years ago at Jody’s Gymnastic Zone. When it closed a couple years later, she began going to Madison Gymnastics World and has gone there ever since.
The past two years, Niebrugge has pole vaulted for the Bull Dogs track and field team. But instead of doing that this spring, she will plans to train Crossfit and might try out for a dance team in college.
“My floor is just where I shine,” Niebrugge said. “It’s fun for me. I used to dance for like 10 years before I did gymnastics, and that dance has really helped my routines, especially on beam and floor.”
Niebrugge also is one of seventh-ranked North’s top gymnasts on the beam. She has scored an 8.9 on that event this season.
Last year, Niebrugge did the beam and floor during the postseason, and she’ll be back on those two events for the Bull Dogs in tonight’s Columbus East Sectional.
“It’s nice because on beam, I’ve been staying on a lot more frequently this year, and I think I’m more prepared,” Niebrugge said. “I’m changing my routine a little bit to have an even higher start value, which is going to help going into the bigger meets. Then on floor, I’m changing to a really cool (tumbling) pass that no one does. So I’m excited about that.”
Niebrugge also will be North’s alternate on the bars and also possibly on the vault. She has scored as high as 34.7 in the all-around this season.
“Each year, she’s progressed and gotten new skills,” Arthur said. “Her flair on her presentation on both her beam and floor are definitely an asset to her performance and routine. The judges seem to like that and have mentioned that on their scoresheets. She’s had to step it up and be a leader in those two events, and she’s done a great job of doing that.”
Niebrugge has had to do that especially in the absence of fellow junior Sami Heathcote, who was the Bull Dogs’ top returning gymnast this season, but has been unable to compete while experiencing after effects of a concussion.
Niebrugge’s major goal is placing in the top six at state on the floor. Kelley thinks that is entirely possible.
“She’s just had a lot of dedication and worked really hard to get to this point, especially to overcome those injuries and come so far and still be getting new skills,” Kelley said. “It’s amazing.”
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Columbus East gymnastics sectional
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Columbus East High School
Admission: $6
Teams competing: Columbus East, Columbus North, Bloomington North, Bloomington South, Brebeuf Jesuit, Decatur Central, Edgewood, Franklin Central, Indianapolis Lutheran, Indianapolis Scecina, Martinsville, Owen Valley, Roncalli, Seymour
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