Fantastic gymnastics

April 8, 2007

Matt Tunseth / Frontiersman

WASILLA - Gymnast Rachel Kennedy spends her days in constant motion.

After school, the Wasilla High School freshman heads to soccer practice, where she's a member of the Warriors' varsity team. Then, when most of her teammates are heading home, Kennedy's real work begins.

After soccer practice, she heads for the gym, where four times a week she jumps, runs, balances and flips for more than four hours as part of her gymnastics training.

When the week is done, Kennedy has logged nearly 80 hours of work between academics and athletics. It's not easy, but according to the 15-year-old from Wasilla, it's all worth it.

&#8220I get tired, but I just keep chugging away,” Kennedy said while taking a break from her workout at Denali Gymnastics in Wasilla.

Her efforts are starting to pay big dividends.

Last month, she won the level nine Alaska state gymnastics title at the state meet in Anchorage. In the U.S., gymnasts are divided into levels ranging from four through 10. After that, athletes attain &#8220elite” status and usually move on to international competition.

For winning state, Kennedy also earned a berth in the West Regional Championships later this month in Yakima, Wash. There, she'll join fellow Denali qualifier Kayla Stegich (who'll be competing at level eight) as they attempt to qualify for the Western National Championships in May.

At the state meet, Kennedy said she nearly stumbled her way out of contention during warm-ups for the vault event.

&#8220I kept falling on my face,” she said.

Kennedy took a big spill, bruising her legs in the process. But she said she knew she had to remain focused and make a strong vault in order to earn the title. The vault she was attempting - a Yurchenko - involves doing a round-off and back handspring onto the springboard before hitting the vault. Kennedy had never before completed it cleanly, but knew she had to win the title.

&#8220I performed the best vault of my life,” she said. &#8220I stuck it.”

Denali Gymnastics coach John Litter said he believes Kennedy has the mental and physical toughness needed to continue advancing in the sport.

&#8220She's a very hard worker,” Litter said. &#8220She has real focus.”

Kennedy's ultimate goal is to eventually move on and compete at the college level.

&#8220I really want to get a full-ride scholarship,” she said.

Earning a scholarship would be the culmination of a gymnastics career that began when Rachel was just 3 years old. She began competing when she was 7, and has been in love with the sport ever since. She said she likes the competitive aspect of the sport, but also enjoys the close relationships she has with her teammates, many of whom she's worked with since elementary school.

&#8220I enjoy being around my team,” she said.

Litter said he believes that Kennedy has the talent to reach her goals, but will need to continue to improve. He said Kennedy has several strong individual events - floor, vault and beam are uneven bars are among her best - but still has a ways to go before she's ready for college.

&#8220If you have two strong events at level 10, colleges will start to look at you,” he said.

While Kennedy isn't there yet, Litter said reaching that level is well within her reach.

&#8220She has about two more years to get there,” he said.

That means lots more days of constant motion, something Kennedy is already plenty familiar with - and she has no plans of slowing down any time soon.

&#8220I'm planning on going all the way through high school,” she said.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com