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When the Bryan Viking gymnastics team departs its upstairs home, a trunk full of memories will be packed away.
The Vikings would like to make the baggage just a little heavier.
Bryan hosts the Region II District 2 gymnastics meet at noon Thursday in what likely will be the last high school competition held at Bryan High's gymnastics gym, located on the second floor at Bryan High School.
A new gymnastics facility is planned for Rudder High School, which is set to open next school year.
"I'm attached to this place," Bryan coach J.T. Fletcher said of the old gym. "A lot of great things have happened in this gym that nobody wanted.
"But, yeah, I'm still looking forward to our move."
The Bryan boys are the defending district champions and have their sights set on bigger accomplishments with a team that could contend for a state title in Garland next month. The Vikings will add a B team for Thursday's district meet, which will included A&M Consolidated, Round Rock and Alvin.
The Vikings have great depth in the all-around competition, including Matt Kelly, who has won three straight district championships. Isaac Reyes won Bryan's first home meet this season, and the only thing blocking Isaac Rodriguez from a win has been his teammates.
"Isaac Rodriguez has been our No. 1 all-arounder, but he has been denied by his teammates," said Fletcher. "He and Matt battled for it last year. We have five all-arounders, which is just awesome."
Count Stefan Quatemont among the contenders, while Bryan has strength in individual elements. Senior Chris Braaton will compete in the pommel horse, rings and parallel bars.
Enoch Rodriguez, Isaac's younger brother who was a competitor in the Junior Olympics, will be held out because of a bad back.
Round Rock may have one of the most interesting stories of the meet. Jake Degtoff, a top all-arounder who was badly injured in an auto accident this winter, is on Round Rock's list of competitors and could compete in his first meet of 2008.
Abbie Thompson and Elyssa Trejo head a Consol girls team taking aim on the district championship. Kathryn Roussel, Lena Serhan and Jesse Drummond round out the Lady Tiger squad.
Consol has two boys in the competition this year, Bryan Patterson and Nick Trejo.
A pair of sophomore all-around competitors, Katelyn Lowe and Jade Lopez, leads Bryan's girls team. Both were state competitors for Bryan last year and have a chance to return as individuals this season.
It's a rebuilding year for the Bryan girls after placing seventh at state as a team last year with all-around state champion Alyssa Zawieja, who graduated.
• David Campbell's e-mail address is david.campbell@theeagle.com.
