Hanging in there 2 Columbus gymnasts look to qualify for national camp
By Paige Harden pharden@therepublic.com
MORGAN Lane and Katrina May are two of eight Indiana gymnasts to qualify for national testing next month, which places them among the nation’s best. The testing is part of Talent Opportunity Program, a national program that selects the top 60 gymnasts ages 9 to 11 to participate in a week-long training camp at the Women’s National Team Training Camp in Huntsville, Texas, each year. Only two girls from Columbus have ever made the team. Morgan made the team in 2005 and 2006. “TOPs was created to identify and train girls who would become elite level gymnasts,” said Jody Tompkins, owner of Jody’s Gymnastics Zone. The months leading up to TOPs testing feature intense training. Katrina and Morgan both train 16.5 hours a week with their regular classes and add another 3.5 hours for TOPs training. “This program is really intense,” coach Kelli Holman said. “They are expected to do more difficult skills and their conditioning is much harder than the other girls.” Making the cut At the Oct. 5 through 7 testing in Houston judges will evaluate athletes on physical strength and gymnastic skills. The first day, competitors must complete strength training exercises including a timed rope climb using only their arms, a handstand held without moving for one minute, and leg lifts while hanging from a bar. “It’s a lot of conditioning,” Holman said. “The strength really benefits their gymnastics.” “Pound for pound these girls are stronger than a lot of athletes,” Tompkins said. On the second day, the gymnasts are scored on vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. “It’s really fun to watch these girls compete,” Holman said. “It looks like they all came out of the same mold.” Of the 300 participants 60 will be chosen for the A team and 60 will be chosen for the B team to return to Houston in December for a week-long camp. “It’s special for them because they will see national team members,” Tompkins said. “Seeing their role models does a lot for inspiring and motivating them.” Holman said Morgan and Katrina are two of the hardestworking gymnasts she has coached. “They both have really high standards for themselves,” she said. “Morgan is bound and determined to improve. She won’t stop until she gets it right.” Upside down Morgan, 11, started taking gymnastics classes when she was 2. “Her older sisters both did it, and she thought she could do anything her sisters could do,” said Cindy Mason, Morgan’s mom. “She always had great poise and determination.” Mason said she enjoys watching her daughter progress in her skills. “It’s a lot of fun,” she said. “But I get nervous watching her do some of the skills knowing she could get hurt.” Morgan said she likes competing, but said the beam can be scary. “All the skills are pretty hard, though,” she said. “You just have to work hard and have determination.” Katrina, 9, took her first gymnastics class when she was 5. “She begged me for two years to enroll her in a class,” said Angie May, Katrina’s mom. “I think she is upsidedown more than she is upright.” Shortly after enrolling in classes, Katrina asked her mom if they could put a balance beam in the basement. “We had to move all of the furniture around,” Angie said, laughing. Katrina said the beam is her favorite. “It’s hard but it’s a lot of fun,” she said. “Sometimes it’s hard to do the skills you are scared of, but you just have to focus and do it.” Morgan Lane Age: 11. Age started gymastics: 2. Favorite skill: All the events. Coaches: Kelli Holman and Jody Tompkins. Family: Mom, Cindy Mason; dad, John Lane; sisters, Tessa Lane, 14, and Chelsea Lane, 17. School: Sixth-grader at Parkside. Hobbies: Water skiing, snow skiing and soccer. Katrina May Age: 9. Age started gymnastics: 5. Favorite skill: Beam. Coaches: Kelli Holman and Jody Tompkins. Family: Parents, Angie and David May; sister, Cassidy, 5. School: Home-schooled fourth-grader. Hobbies: Water skiing and snow skiing. TOPs Physical Abilities At TOPs tryouts competitors are judged on physical strength and gymnastics skills. Competitors are judged in: ¿ Right and left leg splits. ¿ Press handstands (done on balance beam). ¿ Sprint. ¿ Vertical jump. ¿ Timed rope climb with just arms in pike position. ¿ Leg lifts while hanging from a bar. ¿ Handstand-hold for one minute without moving. ¿ Cast handstands (holding on to bar and going to an absolute vertical, locked handstand). ¿ Shoulder flexibility (similar to a backbend). Information: usa-gymnastics.org. National testing The national testing is Oct. 5-7 in Huntsville, Texas, at Women’s National Team Training Center at Bela Karolyi’s Ranch. The two-day competition requires gymnasts to showcase their physical abilities and gymnastics skills. Using the total competition score of each gymnast, “A” and “B” National TOPs teams will be selected. Those gymnasts will return to Huntsville in December for training camps. There have been only four gymnasts from Columbus to qualify for National TOPs testing, and only two have made a team. Morgan Lane is one of them. Information: usa-gymnastics.org.
The Republic photos by Tommy Walker Above left: Katrina May (top) and Morgan Lane practice the rope climb at Jody’s Gymnastics Zone. Above right: Morgan (left) and Katrina each perform a handstand on the balance beam. Bottom left: Morgan (on floor) gets help with stretching from Katrina before practicing for Nationals. Bottom right: Morgan practices her routine on the balance beam.
