While the Packers are bringing a young squad to the Class ‘A’ gymnastics state meet this Friday at 11 a.m., don’t expect them to be fazed by the bright lights of the University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.

Just three of Austin’s 10 gymnasts are juniors or seniors and another four are middle schoolers.

But the Packers also have four gymnasts that competed on the team that went to state in 2010 and finished in sixth place.

“We have a great group of gymnasts and they’ve been to a lot of big meets, but they’re still young and it’s still a little intimidating,” Austin head coach Mark Raymond said. “I think they’ll be focused on taking care of what we’re doing.”

The Packers got a good look at where they stand in the ‘true team’ state meet earlier this season where they placed fourth. Austin is ranked No. 5 in the state heading into the meet.

Although the field includes eight-time defending champion Perham, which brings back six gymnasts from last year, and a New Prague team that Raymond considers the favorite, the Packers aren’t feeling any fear this week.

“We’re all really pumped and every day it keeps adding on more and more,” junior Abby Snater said. “We’re hoping for a better score than we had at the section meet.”

One thing’s for sure, the Packers will be doing everything they can to keep each other going throughout the meet.

“It’s mostly a team sport,” said junior Cassidy Bawek. “We support each other one hundred percent and we’re always encouraging each other.”

While some of Austin’s gymnasts may be a little surprised by some of the talent they see at the state meet, sophomore Sela Fadness will feel right at home. After competing with the Pine Island club team in the USGA last season, Fadness got to know a lot of gymnasts around the state.

“I know at least one girl from every team we’re going to be competing against, whether I competed against them before or I worked out with them in Pine Island,” Fadness said. “It’s nice because we’re not competitors, we’re friends. It’s fun to have all those connections.”

The state meet will give the Packers a rare chance to come into an event without being the favorite. Austin cruised through most of its dual meets and invites this season and it won the section meet by eight points. The state meet will give the Packers a good chance to push themselves even harder.

“This whole week is exciting to have the school support and have everyone on the team excited to be in the gym and ready to work. I think knowing what to expect at state helps the nerves a little bit,” freshman Abby Bickler said. “This shows us where we can be (as a program) and if we keep working hard we’re only going to improve ourselves and (getting to) state will kind of become an expectation.”

The state meet will be important for Austin’s younger gymnasts as eighth graders Rachel Quandt and Logan Tischer are ready to see what it’s all about.

“I’ve been in gymnastics for a long time and it’s completely worth it being in it that long. It was hard last year not going, but this year is really exciting,” Tischer said.

Quandt said she has picked up a lot of pointers this season from some of Austin’s veteran gymnasts and she

hopes Austin can peak in its biggest meet of the season.

“We’ve learned a lot this year and we have a really good chance at placing in the top three. It’s been really exciting,” she said.

The Packers come into the meet with an average score of around 142. There are a couple of teams averaging 145 and a couple teams averaging below 142.

“You have to have a good day. There’s probably a chance for plus or minus of two points for everybody,” Raymond said. “If everybody does what they’re supposed to do, it’s kind of New Prague’s to lose. But if we do what we’re supposed to, we have a shot at it and we have an opportunity. I’d rather be going in with a bigger average, but I like our chances and our girls respond pretty well to big meets. “

Raymond also wanted to point out the work his assistant coaches, Amy Hajek, Kate Schoonover and Katie Lamb have done this season.

“I think we’ve been blessed with a great assistant coaching staff,” Raymond said. “They all bring unique perspective and unique skills and they’ve done an amazing job. I know that we would not be here without them.”