Marina
Emporia, KS — On Monday night, Emporia High School’s gymnastics team delivered a stellar performance in what has been declared their final home meet in school history.
The announcement came amid bittersweet news: after this season, high school gymnastics is no longer a sanctioned sport in Kansas.
Head Coach Angla Podrebarac acknowledged the significance of the moment — though the sanction is ending, the resilience and spirit of the Lady Spartans made this one to remember.
Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | Final home gymnastics meet for Emporia High Spartans |
| Date | Monday night (recent, early September 2025) |
| Coach | Angla Podrebarac |
| Sanction Status | Gymnastics will no longer be a sanctioned high school sport in Kansas after this season |
| Future Options | Emporia girls will have opportunity to compete through club gymnastics in future |
| Top Performers | Addy Malone — 3rd in vault and 5th overall Kaylee Gilliland — 3rd on floor Annalise Huebner — 4th on floor |
Bittersweet Goodbye Amid Strong Performance
Foremost, the meet was not just about robotic scores — it was marked by emotion, pride, and strong performances.
Coach Podrebarac said it was a “bittersweet moment”, knowing that after this season, Emporia High Gymnastics will no longer compete under high school sanction rules in Kansas. Nonetheless, the team left everything on the mat, embodying character, determination, and excellence.
Though the sport’s high school sanction is ending, Coach Podrebarac emphasized that gymnastics isn’t completely over for Emporia.
There’s a plan to offer club-level gymnastics so that dedicated gymnasts still have a path to compete, train, and grow.
Meet Highlights: Standout Athletes
- Addy Malone gave a standout performance in the vault, securing 3rd place, and finished 5th overall across events.
- On the floor exercise, Kaylee Gilliland took 3rd place, while Annalise Huebner placed 4th.
- Overall, the Lady Spartans showed depth and competitiveness even in a farewell home setting.
These individual results reflect both talent and grit — proving that even with change looming, the athletes rose to the occasion.
What This Means for Emporia Gymnastics
- The end of sanctioned high school gymnastics in Kansas marks a major shift. It affects schedules, scoring, eligibility, and funding.
- But Emporia isn’t letting this be the full stop. Club gymnastics will be available, making sure that girls interested in gymnastics still have structured competition and training opportunities.
- While status changes at the top administrative level, the commitment at the athlete and coach level remains strong — this final home meet showed that Emporia’s gymnasts are ready for whatever comes next.
Emporia High Gymnastics didn’t just finish — they culminated their home legacy with performances to be proud of. In the face of change and the end of high school sanctioning, Head Coach Angla Podrebarac and her athletes made sure their final home meet would be one for the books.
With Addy Malone, Kaylee Gilliland, Annalise Huebner, and the rest of the Lady Spartans leading the charge, the program ends its home chapter not in defeat, but in strength, pride, and hope.
Even though the scoreboard may reflect individual placements, the real victory is in heart and future opportunity — gymnastics in Emporia lives on, now perhaps in a new form.