The trampoline team at Ready, Set, Go Gymnastics will be jumping off their trampolines and onto a plane to compete at the USA Gymnastics Championships June 8-12 in Providence, Rhode Island.
“It’s just a great experience and a great way to grow up,” coach Byron Smith said. “You learn a lot of life lessons in this sport, and you get a lot of opportunities that you don’t get in school sports. So to get to travel all over the nation and for some of them, if they reach that level, they get to travel all over the world.”
The team qualified for nationals after an impressive showing at the state and regional level. Thirteen gymnasts are headed to the tournament, ranging in age from 10 to 16. Some of the older team members have competed at a national level before and said it takes a lot of time and dedication.
“If you want to do sports in school, you can’t do both because you have to spend so much time here,” Amanda,15, said. “If you want to do this, you have to pick one.”
But for some of the younger gymnasts, this is their first time. They said they are a little nervous, but know what they have to do to persevere.
“Get back up, forget about it and move on,” Annabelle, 10, said.
The athletes said competing in trampoline at such a high level taught them valuable life lessons.
“Hard work pays off,” Bryson, 14, said. “The more you practice the better you are.”
The gymnasts said they are hoping for a couple top three finishes in Rhode Island and that it’s only the beginning. All the gymnasts said they hope this experience will help them eventually jump onto a podium wearing Olympic gold one day.
“Have dreams,” Annabelle said. “If you put your mind to something you can always do it.”
