When the Bryan gymnastics team formed an impromptu diving squad, they had no idea it might be a springboard to success.

First-year Vikings swimming coach Mike Ortiz drafted veteran gymnastics coach J.T. Fletcher to form a team to compete in diving at the District 13-5A swim meet. Gymnast Matthew Kelly won the 13-5A championship and reached the finals at regional.

Now he's taking a leap in his own sport.

Kelly is one of five all-arounders that has the Vikings favored to win the 42nd Annual Texas High School Gymnastics Championships, which begin Thursday in Garland. Using a complete team of all-arounders in a bid to win the team title is unusual and it's a first for Bryan's 22-year head coach.

"All of our top all-arounders are ready to go, and we have a sixth-man backup in every event," said Fletcher, whose team had the best regional score in the state at 345.85. "I don't know if I'm a little more confident or if there is a little more pressure. They know they are good, and I tell them that they are good. You just have to be able to execute on that day and time."

Four of the top diving competitors are in the mix for Bryan at the state gymnastics meet -- Kelly, Isaac Rodriguez, Enoch Rodriguez and Stefan Quartemont -- joined by Alex Reyes.

Boys compulsories begin at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Garland Special Event Center. Optionals being at 4:30 p.m. Friday with event finals set to start at 11 a.m. Saturday. The team and all-around championships will be determined Friday.

Bryan's backups likely won't compete, remaining in the background in case of an injury. But Fletcher says the Viking backups are the backbone of a strong team. Chris Braaten has been a key contributor who fills that sixth-man role this week. He also competed in diving.

"The sixth guys really contribute," Fletcher said. "They don't get the recognition, but they push the fifth man and push the fourth man. That's what makes a good team, numbers in the gym and that sixth man."

Diving proved a boon to developing all of the gymnast's skills. Landing in water is softer than even hitting a mat in the gym, and it gives gymnasts a chance to try more moves with more confidence.

Usually.

"It depends on where you land, because you can land on your back," Fletcher said. "It was something different, a new challenge. We wanted to have fun and have a good time. Sometimes gymnastics gets way too serious."

Kelly has used the experience to have a strong spring in the gym. Isaac Rodriguez won the district championship, becoming a three-time district winner.

"Matt and Isaac are a couple of hot dogs," said Fletcher, who points to their leadership -- and their fearlessness -- as keys to Bryan's success. "They are seniors, leaders and two good all-arounders, and each one has a chance to win the all-around at state."

In recent years, gymnastics has added one all-arounder rule, forcing teams to have at least one competitor take part in all events. Bryan has taken it to its extreme this year, attempting to become the first team since 1979 to win the championship with a team off all-arounders.

"There were times when we struggled to put up two all-arounders," Fletcher said.

Now Bryan has five with a strong backup waiting to pitch in if necessary. And Bryan's intrasquad competition, both in the pool and in the gym, has helped the Vikings put together their run to the state meet.

"Hopefully, it will carry over with the way we compete at state," Fletcher said. "We did a really good job at regional and can do the same thing at state."

• David Campbell's e-mail address is david.campbell@theeagle.com.

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