GYMNASTICS

Loewen, Class of 1981, won 10 individual gymnastics state championships during her career as a Viking, and in doing so became one of the most decorated gymnasts to ever compete at Lakeside.She began her gymnastics career with the United States Gymnastics Suppliers Association at the age of eight but didn’t start competing at Lakeside until her sophomore year. The decision to compete at Lakeside allowed her to enjoy her high school years while competing for her school instead of solely competing for the USGSA.As a sophomore, Loewen won four indi- vidual state titles for all-around, bars, floor and vault to help lead the Vikings to their ninth-consecutive state championship. In 1980, she won five state titles for all-around, bars, beam, floor and vault. During her senior year in 1981 she won the state title in the floor competition.Loewen was also successful in the county meets during her high school career and in 1979 she won the vault event. She captured the all-around, bars and floor events in 1980, and in 1981, Loewen won the all-around, bars and vault.

Hall-Watts, Class of 1976, is one of the most accomplished gymnasts in Lakeside history. She won nine individual state titles from 1973-1976 and helped lead Lakeside to team titles in each of her years as a Viking. She also was a cheerleader for football and basketball while at Lakeside.In 1973, Hall-Watts won state championships in three events: the all-around, bars and beam. In 1975, she won the floor and vault state titles, and in 1976, she won four individual titles: all-around, bars, beam and floor.Coupled with the state championships, HallWatts earned several DeKalb County championships throughout her career. In 1973, she won the all-around, bars, beam and floor. In 1975, she continued her dominance and won all-around, bars, beam and floors again. In 1976, Hall-Watts won the county championship again with victories in the same events.Following her time at Lakeside, she went to Indiana State on a gymnastics scholarship before transferring to the University of Georgia where she competed as a “GymDog” and finished her final three years of college.

Morrison, Class of 1974, helped lead the boys gymnastics team to Lakeside’s first state team championship. He became Lakeside’s only male gymnast to win the state all-around title, both in his junior and senior years. In addition to all-around, Jeff became the state champion on four other events: parallel bars, rings, side horse, and high bar his senior year.He competed alongside his twin brother, Jerry, who also excelled in the sport. In 1974, Morrison won the Viking Award, numerous county championship medals, and both brothers went on to earn athletic scholarships and compete for Georgia Tech – ultimately serving as team co-captains.While at Georgia Tech, Morrison won the Minor Sports Athlete of the Year, the Bobby Jones Award, the Atlantic Coast Conference Athletic Scholarship Award, was a four-time qualifier for the NCAA championships and was nominated for the U.S. Nissan Award (comparable to football’s Heisman trophy).He was inducted into the Georgia Tech Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986 along with his brother Jerry. In 1979, Morrison was ranked 7th in the country on parallel bars and 12th in rings.