Three weeks before the biggest competition of the year, Holly Bernard decided to change things.

She added another event to her gymnastics resume in hopes of placing at the NHIAA Girls Gymnastics State Championship meet in Salem. After competing in just one event – balance beam – in last year’s meet, Bernard wanted to show off her skills in another event.

No big deal, though.

All she had to do was learn a new floor routine, complete with brand new music and new choreography more than halfway into the season, while trying to perfect her balance beam routine as the Saturday, Feb. 10, championship meet drew close.

“This is the biggest meet we have, so I was looking forward to it,” said the Bedford native. “I didn’t want to use the [floor] routine I use from the Y because it’s really boring, and I wanted something flashier and fresh.”

Bernard – and her flashy, fresh routine – was joined by teammate Jill Dusseault as West’s only competitors. The two have been competing in the Goffstown YMCA’s gymnastics program since they were 4.

Bernard’s new floor exercise earned her a tie for 76th place with Keene’s Megan French. The Blue Knights senior scored a 7.200 on the floor exercise and a 6.400 on the balance beam, good for a 77th-place tie with Keene’s Rachel Ogelby.

Dusseault tied for 63rd place on the balance beam, scoring a 7.100. The West sophomore competed in all four events, scoring a 6.700 on the bars, 7.550 on the floor exercise and 7.500 on the vault. She finished 43rd in the allaround with 28.850 points.

Being one of only two West representatives at the meet was no bother for Dusseault, who said she enjoyed the individuality of the sport.

“It’s not weird being the only ones here,” said Dusseault. “I like individual sports because you get to have your moment. You’re really competing with yourself because the skill levels here are so different in high school. Unless you’re Nicole Simoneau, then you’re competing with the rest of the state.”

West head coach Meg Norklun, who also coaches Manchester Memorial and Manchester Central, said each gymnast’s competitive spirit varies depending on her strengths. Norklun coaches girls who’ve never set foot on a gymnastics mat and those like Central’s Simoneau, who won the individual state title both this year and last.

“I like it being just the two of us,” said Bernard. “There’s no feuds and a great comfort level, which is something you need when you’re competing at this meet. (Jill) helps me remember what I’m going to do so that I don’t totally cave in front of the judges.”