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Saturday, March 1, 2008
Girls In Motion
Greater Reading, PA
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By: Laura Williams , VYPE
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When a group of high school athletes hit the playing field, enthusiastic supporters waving banners or snapping pictures cheer them on. The competitors are immersed in their sport while receiving encouragement from parents, teachers, and peers. They train vigorously leading up to the first event, and practice daily after school to hone their skills. Now, take this concept, and turn it upside down. What you have is a gymnastics team.
What is it that sets gymnasts apart? The kids involved in this sport are forged by something stronger than shared classes or other commonalities found in a school environment. The girls, some of whom have been gymnasts since before they were in elementary school, are united by a deep love of the sport. The make-up of the teams is diverse, with competitors from schools all over the county.
Gymnasts do not have a season, per se. They practice year-round and compete at meets during different times of the year. According to coach Diane Smith of Funtastic Gymnastics in Pricetown, their team members practice about 10 hours per week year-round, at night and on weekends.
The practice time for gymnasts at Berks Gymnastics Academy (BGA) depends on their competition level. Competitive gymnasts begin at Level 4 and can move up to Level 10, then International and Elite. For instance, Level 5 gymnasts typically practice for nine hours per week, while Level 10 practices about 16 hours.
The life of a competitive athlete involves sacrifices, sweat, and ambition. The intense practice schedule helps to prepare the athletes—mentally and physically—for the rigors of competition. “It’s a very mental and emotional sport,” stated Rich Fiorentino, head coach and owner of BGA.
The Funtastic team competes in six meets from the months of January through May. Meets allow the gymnasts to showcase their abilities in front of family, friends, coaches, and—last but not least—the judges. Lauren Swavely, 12, of Holy Guardian Angels, recalls the emotions of her first meet. “I felt good once it was over. It was such a thrill getting up there and competing.” Lauren Strella, 16, formerly of Hamburg High School, has found that meets enable her to come out of her shell. “Sports are the only way I have to express myself,” said Strella.
For some gymnasts, the mental challenges are the toughest. Funtastic Coach Regan Goodhart Jandrew noted that Strella is a perfectionist and does much better at meets than in a practice setting. “It feels good to overcome my fears,” admits Strella.
The teammates encourage each other in many ways during their practices. They cheer for their friends’ tumbling passes and slap high-fives after bar routines. “I come here to compete and have fun,” Kaitlyn Stagliano, 18, of Governor Mifflin said. “There’s no pressure from people because we’re all from different schools.”
Berks Gymnastics just hosted the Dutch Classic, an annual meet involving over 300 competitors from Level 4 through 10. “The team likes home meets because they can show off in front of their friends,” stated Fiorentino.
Once the final meet is over, the team at Funtastic shifts gears. Workouts from late summer through mid-winter involve preparing the athletes both mentally and physically for new routines at a higher level. “We spend most of the off-season working on endurance and conditioning,” Smith said. “We attempt new skills, condition, and do less full routines.” Some of the gymnasts prefer the off-season other than the competitive time of year, simply because they are able to increase their repertoire of tricks.
The priorities and focus may shift with the seasons, but one thing remains consistent—the dedication of the team members. Even without the varsity letter, these athletes have what it takes to compete, and they do it—year round.
Moving Up
A challenge faced in competition is that gymnasts cannot advance without earning a benchmark score from the judges. Coach Diane Smith explains that USA Gymnastics require each athlete to earn above a certain score in order to move to a higher level of competition. The high school girls at Funtastic compete at Level 7 or higher, and each subsequent level calls for different skills to be incorporated into routines on each of the four apparatus—balance beam, uneven bars, vault, and floor exercise. Should a gymnast not earn the required scores during her competition season, she will have to remain at her current level for the subsequent season. While the athletes may feel the need to “make the grade” to move to higher levels, the “winning isn’t everything” attitude is alive and well at Funtastic. “My personal belief is that this sport has a lot to offer, regardless of the competition level,” Smith said. “I really believe that every day, I have the ability to change a child’s life,” Smith continued. “They may not be getting support at school or from friends or parents; we can give them that. Competition is great but, honestly, it’s not why we do this.”
Moving On
According to Rich Fiorentino, an average of 95% of Berks Gymnastic graduates receive college scholarships. Jacqueline Yanchocik, a senior at Twin Valley, was offered a full scholarship to Eastern Michigan University, but turned it down to walk on at North Carolina State. When asked what it’s like getting offered a scholarship for gymnastics, Yanchocik said, “It’s pretty cool because not a lot of people expect it.” Alli Aquila, a senior at Wilson, has also received interest from D-1 schools, such as Eastern Michigan and William & Mary. “It’s really nice to know that all of your hard work has paid off and colleges recognize us for the time we put into this,” said Aquila.
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