Gymnastics: Permian boys ready to keep tradition rolling

The history is on the wall for all to see, the accomplishments of the Permian High gymnastics program set on stone.

Quite a bit of the writing is recent, helped by the most recent trio of three-time all-around champion Bryce Cashell, Casey Hogg and Josh Bell.

That triumvirate, however, has graduated and many now feel that additional writings may soon be an epitaph for the Panthers program.

There are, however, several other authors in the room that feel all the talk of what a powerful program Permian was is highly premature.

Juniors Micah Tripp and Ryan Press have been along for the glorious ride the past two seasons and now see this year as their time to step up and lead, to take the team back to what they feel is its rightful place — the state championship meet.

“We are here to show everyone that Permian still is Permian,” Tripp said.

The first glimpse came in December when the Panthers defeated Odessa High in the annual City Championship Meet.

Today and Saturday, this year’s edition for head coach Todd Vesely will be on full display at the annual Mojo Invitational at the Permian gymnastics gym.

Expected to compete are Permian, Odessa High, Lubbock High, El Paso Bel Air, El Paso Montwood and El Paso Hanks.

The optional routines will be at 5:30 tonight, with the compulsory rounds set for 11 a.m. Saturday.

Press, along with Tripp, can’t wait for the competition to start.

“This is our chance to show everyone that this team is still very good,” he said. “Our goal, as it is every year, is to make it to the state tournament and to make it the best time.

“We know that it’s going to take every one of us, just like it took every one when Bryce, Casey and Josh were here. They didn’t do it by themselves and we aren’t going to be doing it by ourselves either … this is a team.”

Joining the two juniors are sophomores Camryn Hammit and Matthew Martinez, along with five freshmen, highlighted by Riley Murphy.

Tripp, Press, Hammit and Martinez all competed for the Panthers last year as they battled to another top-three finish at the state meet.

Vesely expects them to be successful this year, as well.

“I hope so,” Veseley said when asked if he thought his team knew about the expectations each year brings. “We won’t really know whether they understood until the end of the year, when all the chips have been played and the cards are on the table.

“But when you understand the consequences of your work and what you can do out there, then you take pride in your work. Things change and you become more competitive and I’ve seen that with this team.”