GMC’s Miller relishes return to state gymnastics meet this week

About a year ago, Abby Miller was doing everything she could to make it through preparations for the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association State Gymnastics meet.

Miller, then a sophomore for the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau/Melrose-Mindoro/Cochrane-Fountain City gymnastics co-op, was nursing a back injury that had kept her out for nearly the entire 2020-21 season.

She competed at the Coulee Conference meet in the beam and bars events before competing in every event at sectionals, qualifying for state in bars and floor. As she prepares for her return to the tournament for the third straight year this week, the junior said she is happy to be back competing full-time.

Miller will compete in the all-around, vault and beam categories at the Division Two state meet in Wisconsin Rapids on Friday, and she’ll bring with her a new appreciation for the event. 

“I was just really happy to be able to push through it (injury) and finish the season, do a whole season this year,” Miller told the Times on Monday.

The injury still bothers Miller with occasional flare ups, but regular trips to the chiropractor and a few tweaks to her routines have helped her get through her junior season. 

"I just have to listen to my body,” Miller said. “If I'm sore one day maybe take it easy the next day, take a couple practices off if I need to, rest after meets."

Miller altered her floor routine, for example, taking out a flip and protecting her back in the process. She has worked regularly with coach Savannah Britton to navigate improving her routines while also avoiding re-injury.

Britton has been impressed with the junior’s work ethic and perseverance this season as she worked through her injury, noting she was always there to build up her teammates even when she had to take it easy herself.

"She tends to push through a lot,” Britton said. “I know with her back and stuff it’s been tough. But this year she got to compete a lot more, and I think that's amazing that she was able to push through that."

Miller has hopes for a new personal best in the all-around competition at the state meet, and she plans to focus on each event on its own to try to accomplish her goal. She has spent this week perfecting the finishing touches on what will be her final competition of 2021-22.

Nerves won’t likely be much of a factor for the junior, who qualified with the co-op’s team berth in 2019-20 as a freshman before following it up with last year’s individual qualification.

“It was pretty crazy,” Miller remembered of her first time at the state meet as a freshman, before later saying it “definitely helps” her that she knows what to expect as far as atmosphere and fans.

The preparation of her routines is simple, she said, adding that she tries to focus on what she can control.

“I just try to focus and relax and not stress myself out too much,” Miller told the Times with a laugh, “Because that just makes it worse.”

Britton said one of Miller’s best traits is that she doesn’t compare herself to other gymnasts and focuses instead on how she can improve herself.

Especially on tough days with injuries, that has served the gymnast well, Britton said. 

"She may not practice as hard every single practice because of her back,” her coach said. “But she knows what she's doing and she stays out of her head and is very good at focusing on what she needs to do out there."

Miller echoed her coaches’ words about staying within herself ahead of her season finale later this week.

When the music starts and the chalk hits her hands this weekend, another goal accomplished—as well as the long, sometimes painful journey it took to get her there—will be what lingers in her mind more than a final placement. 

“I just have to tell myself that I can just do what I can do and do the best I can,” she said.

“And that’s all that matters.”